It's a Wrap - 2012

Hey all,
So this year has been pretty big for me and I wanted to find a way to kind of wrap it up (hence the title) without just doing one of those "Best Products" tags that seem pretty generic. So instead I came up, with the help of a few questions from those tags, my own tag/questionaire about the year and made it pretty all inclusive rather than only doing it about beauty. I'm mostly doing this for myself to look back and reflect on but I hope that you all think about your own experiences in 2012 and maybe take some tips or suggestions from my experiences. Thanks for reading and Happy New Year

Personal:
Best book you read in 2012? 
I read the Hunger Games in the early spring of this year and fell in love with the trilogy, the movie was good but nothing compared to the books, the best writing I've read in a long time. 

What was your best month? Worst month?
My family went on our first real, week long vacation in August of this year, and it was overall just a great month.  I left my job that I had been hating and it was just a good month, but then we had to drop my brother off in Kentucky for college and that was rough on us.  So it was kind of the best and the worst wrapped into one. 

What’s something you learned about yourself?
I learned that I'm really great at working with kids who are a little rough around the edges.  I also learned that I have a serious problem with spending money and need to marry rich or curb this problem. 

What is one thing you regret from this year?
I regret not going back to school. It's one of the things that is really holding me back in life, so it's on my to do list for this year. 

Did you have to go to the hospital? 
I actually don't think I went to the hospital at all in 2012, but I was there yesterday if that counts.

How did you earn your keep?
I spent the first 8 months of the year working at a home for kids who had expereienced severe trauma/neglect.  That was an amazing experience, I worked there for 2 years and it was a great place to grow and learn but they way it was run was  pretty ridiculous and I ended up exhausted and worn out.  When I left there I decided to take a hiatus and decide what I want to do in the end.  I have been nannying since September, which is a weird experience but the money is good and I'm learning a lot. I will probably stick with nannying until the end of the school year and work on getting back to school and finding a job as a teaching assistant/paraprofessional. 

What was your favorite movie?
I must say my favorite movie of 2012 was probably the Hobbit, although there were a few great ones, including Trouble with the Curve, Breaking Dawn (P. 2), Brave, The Campaign and the Hunger Games. 

What was your favorite song?
Favorite songs are always hard for me to pinpoint.  I loved Taylor Swift's new Album, Red. And my favorite song off of it was All Too Well. I also loved Gary Allan's Every Storm Runs Out of Rain. 

What was your proudest moment?
I paid off most of my credit card debt that I'd accrued over the years so that was pretty exciting for me. 

Beauty Related:

What was your favorite drugstore brand/product of 2012?

I think Maybelline took the drugstore by storm this year.  Between their variety of great mascaras, babylips and my all time favorite Color Tattoos, I seriously don't know what I would do without them.  My favorite product was definitely my Color Tattoo's. I love the white one most but also love the new pink and the long time bronze. 

What was your favorite fragrance of 2012?

I'm still in love with my Taylor Swift Wonderstruck fragrance. I also love Secret Wonderland and Forever Red from Bath and Body Works.

Most used beauty products of 2012? 

I must say that if I had to narrow it down to just a few items I used constantly in 2012 they would be the following: Babylips Lip Balm, my ELF Powder Brush, my Aussie Split End Cream and My Sonia Kashuk small powder brush.

5 best eye products of 2012?

Maybelline Color Tattoos

Prestige Total Intensity Eye Liner in Black

My ELF 32 pan palette in Warm

Revlon Carbon Black Collogen Mascara

Urban Decay Primer Potion

5 best face products of 2012?

This one is probably the hardest question, because I really don't use much face makeup. But here it goes. 

Maybelline Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser 

Covergirl and Olay Simply Ageless Concealer.  

ELF high definition face powder

ELF mineral blush in Joy

Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream

My 2013 Bucket List:

Complete a "No Buy Challenge" from now until March 30, 2013.  This is bound to be a challenge for me buttttt I need to use the products I have and save money.

Work on budgeting myself, save a few thousand before the end of summer. I need to get on track to being an adult, meaning less going out, more saving and making more safe and conscious choices. 

Go on a trip, somewhere I've never been. This has long been a goal of mine but it's really seeming like this might be there to do it.  I'm considering becoming and overseas Au Pair for a few months or just taking a trip somewhere with friends.

Get back to school.

Find a job in the education field. I really need to start  moving forward in my career, so this and going back to school go hand in hand, as I need the field experience and the classroom experience to become a certified teacher in MA.

Keep up with the blog!

December Favorites

Hi All,
So first off I need to apologize for the 5 month disappearance! My life got really really hectic and my computer has been out of commission.  I got a new laptop for Christmas (Thanks Mom!) so I'm hoping to keep up with my blog among other things now that I have a working computer. So I hope I still have people reading but if not I'll kinda be acting like this is a brand new blog, posting it out. I hope you all will share this too!

1. Primer - So I have finally fallen into the Urban Decay primer potion trend. I have tried so hard not to fall into high end trends for so long buttttt I got a sample of this in a palette I got on Hautelook in early fall.  I rarely use the palette but fell in love with the primer.  It's like now that I've tried something this good I can't go back.  Now ELF's primer that I had loved for forever feels gross and greasy and nothing really holds it own anymore. Now I have to find more because it's almost empty =(.   I have also been using the ELF mineral infused face primer to prime my face, although I'm working as a nanny now so I am rarely doing full face makeup.

2. Eye Shadow - This month I have been sticking to some very neutral eye looks, between the holidays and work I have tried to be natural and just perfect the blending of the eyes more than add too much color. I have been loving the Covergirl Shimmering Sands trio that I got last year during a sale at CVS. I'm really close to hitting pan on at least 2 of the colors, the lighter and the medium colors. I have also been using the Maybelline color tattoo's as base colors and I love them so much.

3. Eye Liner - This month I have continued to love my Prestige Total Intensity eye liner in black for my water line and a few of the Sephora Nano eye liners for my top lash line.

4. Foundation -  I haven't really been doing much foundation this month but have been loving my Loreal Frutis BB Cream in light/fair as well as my ELF mineral foundation in porceline.

5. Concealer - I am still in love with the Covergirl and Olay Simply Ageless Concealer.  It is so creamy and thick enough that it really does cover dark circles.  I literally use it ever single day.  I also have been loving the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser.  It literally ERASES my dark circles without being cakey or too thick.

6. Blush- I  haven't loved any blushes this month really, but I have beem reaching for my ELF mineral Blush in Joy, which is a mauvey/pink shade, which isn't too shimmery.

7. Palette -This month I didn't really use any stand out palettes.

8. Face Applicator - this month I found myself reaching for the E.L.F. Powder Brush for EVERYTHING!

9. Eye Applicator - This month I've still been using my Sonia Kashuk Small Powder Brush. This brush will be a forever forever favorite.

10. Hair Product - I've been loving Argan Oil for the last few months, and along with my mom have gone through about 3 bottles in 3 months.

11. Perfume - Last month, when I went out black Friday shopping, I picked up a sample of the new Bath and Body Works scent in Forever Red and literally not gone a day without it. Got a larger roll on sample size for Christmas that I'm super excited for since I just finished my little sample. 

12. Mascara - This month a friend of mine got me the Loreal Extra Volume Collagen Mascara in Black, which she had been suggesting for months but I never bought it because I liked the mascaras I'd been using.... man was I missing out!

13. Moisturizer - This month I have loved the Bath and Body Works triple moisture body cream in the scent Secret Wonderland.

14. Lip Products- This month, with such dry, cold weather, my main goal with my lips has been to keep them from being dry and cracky.  I have loved my Nivea Lip Balm in Honey and Milk, as well as their kiss of Shimmer lip balm.  I have also been loving my Baby Lips from Maybelline. I have two of those, the grape colored one and the shimmery peach color, both which work wonders for me.  And lastly I have been loving my Sugar Fresh Sugar Plum tinted lip treatment, which I have been loving for months now.  It is a beautiful color and provides so much moisture.

So those are my favorites and most used products of December.

April 2012 Favorites

1. Primer - This month I have been using the Sephora Glitter Eye Shadow in the small tub.

2. Eye Shadow - I haven't really been using any individual eye shadows lately but if I were to choose one it would be I the Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze

3. Eye Liner - Physicians Formula Brown Eyes Shimmer Strips Cream Liner is awesome as is the prestige total intensity black eyeliner.

4. Foundation -  I have been trying to give my skin a break this month and have been using the Garnier BB Cream and Elf Mineral Powder Foundation.

5. Concealer - I am still in love with the Covergirl and Olay Simply Ageless Concealer.

6. Blush - This month I loved the Milani Baked Blush in Luminouso

7. Palette - this month I loved using the Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips for Hazel Eyes, Eye Candy edition.  I love the selection and variety that this palette offers.

8. Face Applicator - this month I pretty much primarily used my Soho Beauty Sponge for all my face application and then used my ELF Complexion Brush to apply my powder and blush.

9. Eye Applicator - This month I have been loving the Ulta Eyeliner brush that I recieved for Easter and have been using it all month long.

10. Hair Product - I have been loving the Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Moist Deep Conditioner this month and have been using it about 2 times a week to help my hair stay healthy and shiny.

11. Perfume/Lotion - I bought a PINK Body Butter in Fresh Vanilla, Feel Flirty and have loved it all month long. 

12. Mascara - This month I have fallen back in love with my Covergirl Lash Exact Highlights mascara for hazel eyes.

13. Moisturiser - Just like last month and the one before., I have been using Bio Oil  constantly and love it!

14. Nail Care Product - Burts Bees Lemon Oil Cuticle Cream.

15. Non Beauty- This month I have been loving braids in my hair.


So those are my favorites and most used products of February. Have a great night!

Ulta/Easter Haul

Hey everyone so for the very first time, I visited Ulta! OMG heavenly!! So I am just going to list and picture of each item. Please comment below if you have any of these products. 

Disclaimer: These were all a gift from my wonderful parents for Easter!

Ulta Secret Garden Collection

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Too Cool 

Essence Stay All Day Cream Eyeshadows in Stars and Stones & Glammy Goes To...

NYX Lipsmacking Fun Color in Rose & Galaxy

Ulta Bountiful Lash Fortifying Mascara in Soft Black

EOS Lip Balm in Honeydew Hibiscus 

NYX Eyeshadow Trio in In the Woods

Prestige Soft Blend Khol Eyeliner in Jet Black

NYX  Jumbo Eye Pencil in Cottage Cheese & 

Strawberry Milk

LASplash Lipgloss in Catch Me

Prestige Total Intensity Eyeliner in Daring Green

Essence Eyeliner Pen in Black

Essence Brow and Lash Gel in Clear

Physicians Formula Eye Definer in Ultra Black

 
Ulta Eye Liner Brush

Giving into the Hype- New Product Haul

Hey guys, so this weekend I finally caved and purchased a few of the newer hyped up products that I haven't stopped hearing about. SO here are the products I purchased and my first impressions of them.

Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo Cream Eye Shadows in the colors Tough as Taupe, Pomegranate Punk and Bad to the Bronze- $5.84 ea. at Walmart

Top-Bottom- Bad to the Bronze,
Pomagranate Punk, Tough as Taupe

Impressions:
Tough as Taupe- This is the only Matte Color I saw in the collection and is incredibly pigmented, goes on smooth and has a very cement like look to it.   I liked this color but it was not my favorite of the three.  It is very gray and I'm not a huge gray fan, I just don't think it compliments my complexion but I am sure I will make use of it.

Pomegranate Punk- This color was my favorite, a very wearable berry color with a beautiful satin finish.  It was a little more splotchy than the other two colors but I loved it just the same.

Bad to the Bronze- This was the most creamy of the three colors and it spreads so smoothly and perfectly onto the lid.  I used this as a base more than once and it is so amazing and works great with other colors overtop of it.

Stock Photo of Dream Bouncy Blush in Pink Plum

Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in the color Pink Plum- $8.29 at CVS
Impression:
I hateddddddd this blush and returned it this evening.  The color payoff was terrible.  The consistency of the product was very interesting but The product itself sucked.  There was no color, the product didnt spread and was not smooth at all. This is the worst of the products I purchased and I will not be trying any more of these products but do hope to try other cream/mouse blushes in the hopes that they would be better pigmented.

Sorry for the lighting!

Hard Candy Take it Off Makeup Remover- $5.00 at Walmart
Impression:
This may be the best makeup remover I have ever used.  For years I relied soley on cold cream for makeup removing and I really liked the way it instantly reliveed your face but became frustrated with how it made my skin, particularly my eye area feel after using it.  This creamy product is very similar in consistency but does not leave the heavy grease feeling that I had experienced with the cold cream.  I love that is a lotion and that it is specifically formulated for erasing "glitter, waterproof and long lasting products", as these titles are on most of my favorite products and liquid makeup removers never seem to be able to completely remove them.

Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector B.B. Cream in Light/Medium- $10.00 at CVS 

B.B Cream in Light to Medium

Impression:
Okay so we know that there's a huge trend spreading through the beauty world surrounded the B.B Creams that have come out recently.  I had been hearing a lot about them and wanted to find a cheap alternative to try, especially with summer coming up.  I work in a pretty high activity job and need to use makeup that won't be too heavy, wear off through the day or melt if I'm in the heat but I also need some coverage.  I looked around at the different high end B.B. creams but I didn't want to spend 30+ dollars on a cream I wasnt even sure I would like.  I love my foundation combination that I have been using lately and I didn't want to commit to another product.  So I picked up this cream when I saw it at my local CVS the other day and have been LOVING it so much the last week or so. It gives this awesome dewy look and sheer enough that you can see all of my freckles but enough coverage that it helps to even out my skintone.  I use this with my Covergirl/Olay Concealer and they match together so well that it's just straight up gorgeous!

Overall aside from the horrible blush I am super satisfied with my purchases and hope that you find these mini reviews useful and helpful.

Please comment and follow!