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!

May Favorites... a little late!

1. Primer - This month I have been using the Sephora Glitter Eye Shadow in the small tub for my eyes and Hard Candy Sheer Envy Primer for my face, though I haven't been doing much with my face this month.



2. Eye Shadow -This month I have been sticking with very neutral eye shadows.  I have been sticking with Covergirl Eyenhancers Trio in the color Shimmering Sands and  the NYX Trio in the color In The Woods. The colors in both of these trios blend together very well, though both groups are very different.  They are both shimmery but help keep me create a professional and casual look that is easy to apply daily. I have also used the Wet N Wild Color Icon single shadow in Nutty.

3. Eye Liner - This month I have been constantly using Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Trios.  I have been using the smokey eyes, nude and hazel trios primarily.  These colors are great because they glide on easily and stay on all day.  I have loved using the NYX Baby Blue Eye Pencil as a pop of color.

4. Foundation -  I havent used foundation this month at all.  I have been using different

5. Concealer - I am still in love with the Covergirl and Olay Simply Ageless Concealer and use it constantly, as does my mom.  She is constantly stealing it from me.  I also have been using the Instant Age Rewind Eraser for Dark Circles. I have also been sealing both of these with the ELF High Definition Undereye Setting Powder.

6. Blush - This month I loved the Milani Baked Blush in Luminouso, I love the glow it give my cheeks and how peachy it is without being overly orange.










7. Lip Products- This month I have loved 3 different lip products. I loved the Baby Lips in Peach Kiss, Wet  n Wild Lip Sticks in 502A. And the Bare Escentuals ID lip stick in the color Yumi.  I love all of these colors and used them constantly.













8. Hair Product - I have been loving the Aussie Split End Protectant this month.  I think it has been

9. Perfume/Lotion -This month I have loved Taylor Swifts Wonderstruck, it's strong but not overpowering and is floral enough that it is summery.  I have also loved the Ulta Freshwater Mist Fragrance Spray. 

10. Mascara - This month I have continued to use my Covergirl Lash Exact Highlights mascara for hazel eyes and then I have discovered the Ulta Bountiful Lash Fortifying Mascara in Soft Black












11. Moisturiser -I have loved the Clean and Clear Finishes pore refining moisturiser.

12. Non Beauty- This month I have been loving my new Kindle Fire.


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

Facts: Get to Know Me

So I know this tag has been going on a lot on youtube and similar ones have been on facebook and whatnot and decided I really wanted to let you guys get to know me a little better.  So here are as many things about me as I could remember off the top of my head.

• My favorite color is purple. 
• I drink water, tea and coffee... and that is all. 
• My laundry is never completely done. 
• I think there should be a screening process for parenting. 
• Makeup is my way of building my confidence, drawing away from my weight and other imperfections.
• I love ER, SVU, Make it or Break it and Crossing Jordan. 
• I was horribly bullied all my life, creating illusions about myself that I am constantly trying to not reinforce. 
• I was an extremely competitive rower from the ages 12-18 when I hurt my shoulder. 
• I have one tattoo on my back, a rose for my grandfather
• Depression has been a battle I have been fighting for years but I haven't relapsed into the dark in 2 years and I know it won't happen any time soon. 
• I spend money like it is going out of style.
• I am a residential counselor at a home for kids with behavioral problems. 
• ELF is my favorite brand of makeup.
• Eyeliner makes me look alive. 
• I like mascara that smells funny.
• Taylor Swift is my favorite musician.
• Skillet is my favorite band. 
• I love my family. 
• I bite my nails to a stub whenever I'm stressed or upset or am in a movie theater.
• Gymnastics is my favorite sport to watch.
• I have a skin condition that's really embarrassing. 
• My hair is always in a pony tail but that doesn't mean I dont take great care of it. 
• I didn't own any makeup until I was 20. 
• My sign is a Gemini.
• I cannot wait to be a mother someday. 
• School cost me $30,000 in loans and won't let me finish my last 3 classes. 
• I've been in the hospital for over a week due to depression. 
• My life goal is to change a child's life for the better. 



View from the boardwalk at Castle Island

• Castle Island is my favorite place in Boston. 

My 10 Favorite ELF Products

Hey ALL,
So as you know, I am obsessed with ELF products, which in case you don't know where to purchase these products you can find the entire line on eyeslipsface.com and select items can be found at Target and Dollar Tree stores.  ELF is an incredibly inexpensive line of makeups with items ranging from 1-8 dollars and most of them are on the lower end of the line.  The line is broken into three different categories; essential ($1), studio ($3/6) and mineral ($5/8).  Honestly, I feel that the quality of these items are so much better than many drugstore brand items and their brushes are better than most I have ever tried.

So here are my 10 favorites in no particular order.

• Studio Powder Brush- I use this brush for everything, my foundation, my powder, my blush and my bronzer.  $3
• Studion "C" Brush- This brush is so perfect for patting color onto the lid.  $3
• Eye Brightener Pencil in White-This is an awesome inner corner brightener and waterline color $1
• Cream Eyeliner in Teal- This color makes your eye POP so well and stays put all day! $3
• Waterproof Eyeliner Pen in Black- I have had this liner for 5 months, it hasn't dried out and this pen is beautiful, you can make the most precise line that does not budge. $1
• Contouring Blush and Bronzer Duo- dupes for Nars Laguna and Orgasm, this due has probably had the most success at creating a name for itself.  Both are incredibly pigmented and never chalky.  Both of these colors are incredibly buildable.  $3
• Mineral All Over Eye Brush- This is my everyday makeup brush for all over the lid, incredibly soft and easily cleaned.  It is also made of recyclable material and does it's job in the best way possibly. love love love. $5
• Eyeshadown Primer in Sheer- Primers play a vital role in creating makeup looks that both pop and last all day and this primer does it's job with ease and staying power.  The doe foot applicatior and smooth serum help to make this products one of the best.  $1
• Conditioning Lip Balm SPF 15- These lipbalms, which come in many colors, are very pigmented and nourishing.  The only complaint I have about them is the enormous waste of product they use in the packaging, they need to either go green or fill up the package.  $3
• Makeup Remover Pen- last but not least this pen is great at removing smudge lines when your lower lash makeup smudges or when your still wet with mascara lashes touch the upper lid.  Overall great product.  $3