I've Got That Summertime June Favorites

Well interweb peeps, June is over. Half of the year is already gone and I’ve got some serious whiplash. My bff and I were talking about what we’ve done in the last six months. I won’t get you with the details of the entire past, we are here to see favorites. And for June, there’s a few. Literally because these had been rocking my month. They may be few, but they be awesome.

Kind is the New Pretty – Tarte – If you read my last month’s favorites, which you should here, then you’ll know that I bought this little set on sale during the Ulta megasale of awesomeness. Of course, with my lowered immune system, I was getting sick and wasn’t one for wearing makeup. But now that I’m semi-sane, I’m so glad I bought this mini pallet. It’s easy to get to and has everything great shades that I can literally wear everyday. I’ve made a few trips back home and have had to make super early trips to the doctor so this little pallet plus a couple brushes and some mascara and I’m set.

I had to get rid of a lot of makeup after my stent of being an incubus of plague so between lack of money and the amount of makeup I tend to wear on a normal basis, I've really wanted more of an all-in-one situation and this little pallet has it.

I will admit that I didn't expect it to be this small. It fits in the palm of my hand. The bronzer works really well for my skin tone as it's not too warm. The blush is a bit more on the orange side but I strangely like it. It's buildable for me because I can imagine overdoing it, especially at home where my lighting is terrible thanks to wood panelling, so it's always a bit darker in my house than I like. Now the highlight....It is pretty fabulous. Granted when I put too much so that I look like a unicorn licked my face, it can be a bit much because it's white. The picture doesn't do the sparkle justice and in the words of YouTuber Nicole Guerriero, "Sir, can you see this highlight?" It definitely packs a punch but somedays I wanna be chill and not punch people with my highlight. 

Sally Hansen Instadry Nail Color – Petal Pusher – I hadn’t painted my nails in a hot minute. I haven’t had my nails done in an even hotter minute. Despite everything going on with me, my nails to tend to grow pretty fast so acrylics and gel can get pretty expensive. So instead of a super bold color I grabbed this for a little color and I am loving it. It’s subtle enough to not clash with everything and it doesn’t take forever and a day to dry.

I'm not kidding when I say it's a literal quick drying nail polish. If I have a solid seven minutes, the brush is wide enough to cover most of my nails in one swipe and opaque enough to not be entirely streaky. I can still do two coats, have them dry and pop a quick top coat and dry in roughly that time. So don't be too heavy on the hand and it'll all be well with the world.

Zuchini boats – Pinterest recipe – one of my best girlfriends and I have been working on newer and healthier recipes and once a week we make them and have a chance to catch up on life. Since we both were raised in a way that didn’t always include a lot of veggies like zucchini and squash, I’ve strayed away from them mainly out of ignorance. NOT the case anymore. This recipe she found on Pinterest from thewholesomedish.com called for ground chicken but we used ground turkey and lemme tell you, I’ve made it again and it’s pretty fricken awesome and surprisingly filling. So go check out my Food board onPinterest and test it out yourself.

So yes June be few but I can honestly say these have been consistently happening all month which is not always the case for lots of people, I've noticed. But even though the month is halfway gone, here's what I've been up to, what have you been up too or been loving lately?


In the meantime....


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and check out some of my other posts...

Window Shopping - http://bit.ly/2sG527o
Office Decor - http://bit.ly/OfficeDe
Travelling Can Be Ugly - http://bit.ly/2travelwoe

Fall Transition Favorites

I'm ALIVE!!!!! It's been well over a month since I posted last. My physical health has taken a bit of a turn down the side of a mountain in an inflatable ball and it's been so much fun finding out that there is something wrong. But of course, I still have to wait for the specialist to find out what that is so that's been super fun. Since I’ve been away for some time does NOT mean I haven’t noticed that the season’s have changed. It’s gotten slightly cooler here and the air has changed. Basically, I know that my face is supposed to be oilier than it is normally. Makeup has to change. Skin care routine needs to be adjusted. Scarves are going to be rotated. I don’t have many sweaters so meh. But the boots are on standby.

Makeup

I have actually not been wearing a lot of foundation because even though more countries have joined the negotiations to the oil on my face, I have been finding my blemishes to be dry and flaky. On top of everything that's been going on, my skin feels like I'm going through puberty. And with that, it’s easy to spot where my foundation tends to slide and gather. But in general, the warmer tones are turning more into cool tones, as they should but on particular sunny days like we tend to have, I don’t mind throwing on a bit of a warmer highlight. Once I find my balance again, then I'll be normal-ish. 

Lip Gook (yes, I’ve tried to call it lippie or just by product but my upbringing called it all lip gook)

As much as I hate to admit, for this transition into fall, I’ve been cheating on my Lancome Juicy shaker.... a lot. It's surprising considering that I’ve been using it all summer. Read up on that here. But still, I’ll occasionally use it but I’ve been going to something a bit more simple. Burt’s Bees. Not as old a brand as Chapstick or Carmex, but it’s nice on the lips and the tinted ones like this one in Sweet Violet do some double duty for me for work since the dry times have already started to attack my lips too.

Skin care

I’ve also noticed that my pores are being more noticeable than needed so I’ve been toying with a few things to help that situation. I have a new moisturizer and face wash that seem to be on the right track. The moisturizer is a simpler one for day or night and made for sensitive skin. I love it because it doesn’t take forever to soak into your skin in the morning before putting on makeup, if I decide to wear it that day, and it’s not slimy like my last one was. On days that I feel like a raisin, I can especially feel the difference in my skin.  It's definitely a start. I won't lie when I say that I've usually tried to avoid brands like Olay because it seems like all they show commercials for is anti-aging made for women twice my age, which is all good, great, and fine however comma, I'm not quite there yet. Now that I'm loving this moisturizer, I'm starting to feel that there is no harm in starting early.

The face wash was purchased on a whim to be honest. When I was getting groceries, I needed some face wipes anyway and saw this. I figure that if the Olay brand has been around as long as it has then I could give it’s $7 face wash a shot. My first look was at the oil control. I always, always, look for oil free but this one also claims to be oil minimizing. I have noticed that I don't get as oily as early, so that's been very nice too. I may have had my reservations about Olay as a brand for twenty something me, but it's safe to say that I am so over it. 

Let me tell you about this charcoal sugar scrub I’ve been using. It’s fun to use and smells wonderful. Even though it’s black from the charcoal, my sensitive skin and I feel a nice exfoliation without my face being super red afterwards. Thank you drug store product and drug store price. Like seriously, it's less than $4. I especially like that it's in a tube rather than a tub. I do love the tubs for the body sugar scrubs, like here, but for just the face, it's less wasted in a tube. 

What changes have you made for the Fall?? Let me know, I know I need all the help I can get.

There's still a lot to be said and done about changing just about everything for the new season all while knowing that you're sick but not having a diagnosis is so much worse. It's been affecting my skin, my hair, etc. But like anyone struggling for control in an uncontrollable situation, I do what I can, where I can and sadly that meant leaving the routine I was working so hard to put in, blogwise. On this last note, if you've been reading my posts, I want to thank you for it. I know it's been a while so I also thank you for the patience. I'm planning on getting back into a groove, it's just been a bit slower than I like. But keep hanging with me and we'll get moving.


In the mean time, catch up on some of my other posts...

The Full Figure Picture - http://bit.ly/HomecomingHelp

How Much is My Face Worth? (tag) - http://bit.ly/MyFaceis

Operation Ducks In A Row - Relationships and Life - http://bit.ly/10GTWODIAR







Follow me on Bloglovin - http://bit.ly/MyBloglovinPg

Don't July, These Are Awesome - Monthly Favorites

Another month has come and gone and summer is in full swing. Time to do another set of faves that got me through this month. There's still been a lot of trial and error this month as well because this heat has been Heeeeeelllllllla Hot. (and yes it requires that spread of e's, l's, and the a...just sayin)

Makeup - Benefit Matte Rescue Invisible Finish Mattifying Gel and CoverGirl Ready Set Gorgeous oil free foundation. This heat has just done wonders for my oil so I've tried this combo out and so far, it's progress. Not quite the whole day but there's not much that lasts the whole day, let's be honest. I've used the original Benefit Porefessional and it's nice but a little thicker that I want for summer so I bought a mini Porefessional Matte Rescue. Best part is that it's a water based gel that has been working wonders on keeping my new foundation on my face without feeling thick, especially when it gets hot which here starts at about 8 am. I've really been loving a lot of the Benefit brand, if it wasn't for the amazingness that is the RollerLash and Birchbox, I don't know where I'd be. Sample sizes or deluxe sizes are a total lifesaver when it comes to the designer brands. I don't want to waste money on products that will not work on my oily AF skin or freak out my sensitive skin.

As for the foundation....normally, I'm not a fan of Cover Girl. Nothing against the brand, I just haven't had a lot of good experiences with the products. But after Father's Day, I found that my trustee Maybelline foundation was a shade or so light but the drugstore was out of the next shade as per usual. I honestly can say that I was pleasantly surprised when I got some decent coverage and it matched me really well without feeling thick and cakey. Combine that with the Matte Rescue and in the words of Beyonce and Nicki, I'm feelin' myself.

TV - Grace and Frankie - It's not on Tv per se but the Netflix has been good to me. There's still a few shows that I need to catch up on, like Orange is the New Black, but I need some more uplfiting triumphant and I found that I am always smiling with this show. Granted towards the ending there was some hardcore emotional thought provoking scenes and issues, but the season finale had me laughing so hard my stomach hurt.


Books - Adult Coloring Books - This nice trend shouldn't even be just a trend because the end result is happy. Bought a couple and was given a couple and yet, I'm still on the hunt for the coloring book or pretty images mixed in with curse words. There's been a lot going on in my life that I don't have control over and I feel like my cheese is sliding off my cracker....so to calm me down and not work on anything crucial, I've been coloring and it's wonderful. But if I can find the coloring cussing book THAT will be the ultimate win, but until then, these will still make me happy every time.

Tech - Pokemon Go - Yes. It may be all over the world but it's one of the best things that makes me feel like my country, the world, life in general isn't going to blow up into an atomic cloud. Instead I'll pack up my bag with the essentials that I wrote about, here, and go out in my community and catch Pokemon. I'm going out and finding out there's people who are my age, older and younger as well who are finding the joy in another world that is attempting to mesh with our own in a positive way. So if you are an original Pokemaniac or someone who is new and wanting to taste a bit of the world that some of us love so much, then do it.

These were my favorites for July, August is going to be crazy so we'll see how it goes. In the mean time check out some of my other posts and follow a girl on Bloglovin. I'm really trying to get my follows up on there.


My Bloglovin pg - http://bit.ly/MyBloglovinPg



My most recent Tale of the Tank - http://bit.ly/TOTT50Cal

My new hair habit - http://bit.ly/HairPinz

Lancome Juicy Shaker - http://bit.ly/JJuicy

Hey June - Monthly Favorites

It's that time of the month already and part of me is excited and another part of me is so not ready. Im sure it's been said, but holy shiz on toast, where in the world has this year gone?! I was so excited to do my May favorites and have been planning on future en devours when I looked at the calendar and had to check two other electronic calendars to say, woah!

Moving On, I've gotten together a few things over the month which have been working just swimmingly.

Makeup - Sephora Fine Line Felt Tip Eyeliner

Now if you've seen me write it once, you've seen me write it a thousand times and if you know me, it's a million more times...I'm oily. There are countries planning on invading my face because damn. And sadly my eyelids are no exception. This eyeliner may not stay allllllllll day without a primer but it generally lasts me a work day before transferring or smearing or disappearing and this is waterproof enough. 

Book - The Charley Davidson Series by Darynda Jones - Dirt on the 9th Grave and The Curse of the 10th Grave

I've got a lot of New Mexico pride and this series is no different because I will continue to tell everyone and their dog about it. My amazing AF friend, Kim, turned me onto this series about a supernatural P.I. who shares the same love for coffee and sarcasm and I do. I don't want to ruin it but if you like some mystery, some supernatural, a lotta wittiness and some lovely steamy scenes, then give it a go. The first one is the 1st Grave on the Right. Darynda Jones in a New Mexico writer so if you've ever been to Albuquerque, you may recognize quite a few places.

Technology - Two Dots

This app was an impulse download I'll admit but wow. It's almost like a mix of candy crush and bejeweled. the puzzles get harder and its a bit addicting but what saves me is the limited lives. So when I get super into it and run out of lives, I don't have to buy them or bug the living crap out of people on social media to send me one, it just takes time. So I have to rejoin the real world after a while but it's enjoyable. There's options for free little extras every now and then and of course the actual in-ap purchasing options, BUT if you use the Google rewards that I mentioned in last month's faves, you don't have to use your own money.

Bathroom - Facial Cleanser

I know that skin care has been around for a while and with summer here, routines are changing up and everyone and their dog's gerbil has a Clarisonic spinny brush type thing. Well I don't know about you, but I wish I had that kind of money to spend on one. With my skin being sensitive on top of being oily AF, I get a bit nervous when trying new products for skin care so I couldn't and still can't quite afford the name brand so I found this little thing at Big Lots for about $8. In my mind, I still keep thinking that you get what you pay for however comma, the brush is actually decent and it feels pretty freakin' good. It has two speeds but there isn't much of a difference between them but overall it's a good feeling for a facial massage. I have just been using my regular cleansers but careful enough not to use the brush everyday because yea, don't want to risk that going bad when it feels so good.

Movie - The Intern

I thought about this section because I could easily put on Orange is the New Black or Grace and Frankie from Netflix but I haven't finished them and couldn't in good faith put them down as favorites when this movie has been on a lot in the last month and I HAVE TO WATCH IT EVERY TIME!!! It's a simple movie with a simple plot but I enjoy Anne Hathaway and Robert DeNiro, can you say no to a classic? It's great seeing a movie with a awesome female lead getting some great insight from someone wise and awesome who's had the life experiences on screen and life. Also the music reminds me of The Holiday, which is one of my all time Favorite feel good movies like I've mentioned here, and it makes sense since the director, Nancy Meyers, made it so I have a feeling that The Intern is quickly making it's way up to fave of life status.

What were your favorites of the month?

Had you read my last post?
Getting Fancy With the Juicy Shaker

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Gettin Fancy With Lancome - Juicy Shaker

Ok so I don't see myself as a professional when it comes to super high end makeup and products of the like. I know that there is often a difference in quality and a bigger one in price. And of course it's the price that makes me think twice. Thinking thrice, this is also not sponsored.

I've always kinda viewed brands like Lancôme, Estée Lauder, etc as the old school brands. Not because they are only for older women but because I remember seeing their signs forever and a day where I didn't hear about MAC or Chanel or Marc Jacobs until I was in college watching YouTube videos.

Now fast forward to now, when I started hearing early reviews for the Lancôme Juice Shaker, I was hooked even before they came out. Then I waited and watched and finally found them! Maybe you've seen them on my Instagram, hint hint. They are an adorable mix of lip oil and pigment to nourish the lips and give some color all while looking like a cocktail shaker. Inside the shaker, are a couple weights that do the mixing while you shake it. Then the lid unscrews to show the cone shaped applicator with the actual product that was shaken onto it.

Now let me give you a little backstory on me and lip products. I don't have small lips. They are actually pretty full and while I've lived with them civilly, I've always been a bit self-conscious because if I wore anything other than a nude color or Chapstick, then that was all people would see. Some women are offended by people looking at their chest all the time whereas I would worry that there was lipstick all over my teeth, which, of course, happens often.

I've had my moments but these babies right here, the clouds opened up and down they floated from Heaven because they are perfect. Granted the matte lip has been the thing for a while now but the season is changing and its time for Spring and Summer to shine. They feel and look a bit glossy but with no stickiness...like at all. Seriously!!! I have 3 of these and they glide on without feeling like a glue trap. They have some really nice color but is a little more on the sheerer side which is great because I can layer it with a matte lip to soften it a tad or another lippie or just wear it by itself and I'm not worried about smearing, feathering, or messing with my teeth.

Personal favorite of the 3, so far, is the Mangoes Wild. There's even a subtle mango scent but its not enough for me to hate or feel overpowered, especially since I'm not a huge mango fruit fan.

I also have Cherry Symphony and Mint To Be, which I've also used quite often. There are more days that I don't wear a lip product other than a lip balm so the blue mint is a nice touch with its subtle shimmer.

Normally $21 for a lip product would make me wanna jump back and say do you remember what happened to your 1st MAC lipstick? (Lost it within a month of buying it on a trip to New York City, flying back to New Mexico and handling life and poof it was gone.) But I've made some major negotiations with myself to know where they are at all times and so far so good. I've been using all 3 for well over a month, or three-ish, and I may talk myself into buying more, who knows? Like I'm grown and a good lip is a grown woman staple like mentioned in this post. 

Having a good lip is important and the nutrients and wonderfulness in the oil has helped my lips so much. They're normally on the drier side as I'm also that person that licks off her lip products, bites her lips, other nervous/life ticks so my lips are very much appreciating the love and are peeling a hellllllllll of a lot less. I feel great in it and for as long as I've used it, I will make this a go-to product. Total win in my book so I thank Ulta for the online shopping options to allow me to get this PDQ, aka Pretty Damn Quick, and have it included in my monthly faves for May.

Have you tried them? Do you love them?

Have you seen my last Tale of the Tank?

http://bit.ly/TOTT50Cal

Tales of the Tank - The 50 Cal aka le Clutch

So if you've been following my Tales of the Tank, you'd know that I am a lady with a love of big purses. Partly out of necessity, for me anyway, and partly because they pretty. I don't normally do small bags as they don't hold nearly enough of the things that I need on a daily basis. But with May introducing the warmer weather and huge events, like my BFF's college graduation and a few concerts of the classical variety, le tank isn't always the best thing to show up with. Safe to say that the tank may be a bit much and so a different weapon must be used in close combat, the clutch purse.

According to my little brother, the military warfare type guy, I had to get the appropriate title for this post and for the clutch. He suggested the 50 Cal. Technically it's a gun that helps the tank in the close combat because who wants to waste a huge tank round on something that could be better taken care of by something smaller and quicker. It can still pack a punch when it needs to without endangering the tank or the crew inside.

Now that you've learned you something new, we can leave the metaphor and come back to the clutch itself. It was not easy for me to use, at first. They are small, don't hold much, small, easy to lose, and did I mention small? Sometimes there's a handle or a wristlet or it's just nekkid (yes nekkid and not naked). But it has it perks when I'm somewhere that doesn't really require my entire arsenal. So narrowing down the necessities from what I use on a daily basis to a specific event is also not easy but I've finally found the basics for any event that requires something smaller with a punch.

1. compact mirror - because there may not be a bathroom
2. lippie - chapstick, lipstick, liquid lip, just make sure it matches what you have on..
3. external battery - I will never not have one, read on here
4. mascara - whether it's full size or trial size is up to you
5. smaller coin purse with cash and/or card plus ID - because duh!
6. Wisps, mints, gum (pick your poison) - ain't nobody got time for pepper in your teeth

Now if your boyfriend is like mine, then occasionally you hold the tickets too. But despite the lack of space, it can really help pull a look together. The clutch goes from luggage to a statement accessory with the ability to pack a punch. Needless to say, I've had a few over time to go with just about every level of fancy. And the best part is that they don't have to cost an arm and a leg.

It's all about the care. My first clutch was from Rue 21 for $10 and I still use and the shape has held for many a year. My fanciest is a great gift from my wonderful friend this last Christmas. She thought of me because 1, It's all sequins and 2, I almost bought it myself. Fun fact, it was the only clutch of that kind at maurices in town so who feels super special? This chick! *points at myself*

What do you put in your clutch for special occasions?


Other Tales of the Tank
Makeup - http://bit.ly/TOTTMakeup
Electronics - http://bit.ly/TOTTTech
The Vessel - http://bit.ly/TOTTTank
Panda - http://bit.ly/TOTTPanda

This Girl's New Best Lash Friend

If you read my post on 10 Products Every Grown Woman Needs, then consider this a follow up slash extension. I wrote briefly on one product that is my overall go to, mascara. But I didn’t quite elaborate enough on the why and what I use, so here we are.

Now I have a fairly decent amount of lashes and they are a good length as well, thank you Dad. If I could wear only one makeup product, it would be mascara. Now granted I hated it as a kid who was dipped in makeup for dance recitals, but alas I was young and knew not the amazingness that lies in the power of eyes.

I don’t consider myself a beauty guru by far but I’ve tried a lot of products to get what I’m looking for and I know what works for me and my issues. And for mascara they are:

1.       Is it waterproof like my Voluminous mascara from L'Oreal?

2.       Does it do a better job than my favorite Maybelline Great Lash Mascara in Royal Blue?

So my thing is that my skin is not just oily but it also gets to my eyelashes in some ways. Like I mentioned, my lashes are decently long on top and bottom. If I’m wearing a black mascara, more often than not it absolutely has to be waterproof because somehow, if it’s not, then it’s instant rabid raccoon eyes. I’ve been wearing the Royal Blue Great Lash since I was allowed to wear makeup and never had that issue. Is it the formula? Who knows, but my blue lashes have been a signature of the women of my family for a while.

My second go-to is the L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara. A great friend of mine turned me to it in high school and I’ve never looked back. Besides the fact that the formula that can’t come off without an act of Congress, I love the separation it gives my eye lashes. Call it my Hispanic culture, but no one has time for clumpyness. So yes, I have been that stereotypical chick separating her eye lashes with straight pins, pencil lead, etc. Never have to do that with Voluminous mascara.

With these, I’ve never really had a want to dabble into other brands. I’ve tried a couple drug store brands but not so much on the higher end other than samples from Sephora or Birchbox, that is until now. I can say that I am so hooked on Benefit’s Roller Lash. A couple YouTube peoples I follow have talked about it and I understand that you basically either love it or hate it. I love it! I love it! And did I mention that I absolutely LOVE IT!

Now this is only a mini version that I got at Ulta for maybe ten bucks, I had a coupon and redeemable points so I couldn’t tell you exactly how much it was. But because I didn’t know if I would love it or hate it, I just said to be safe and get the mini and I’ll probably be getting the full size very soon and add it to my go to’s, especially if I'm running late, then it goes here.

I can only describe it as a great mesh between my staple mascaras, because my Maybelline formula lets me wear a cool color mascara without the black eyes later in the day or in the morning. As far as I can tell, the Roller Lash is not waterproof but it does have some epic staying power even for my oily issues. The brush isn’t as ‘brushy’, best I can come up with, like the voluminous but the lift and separating power is phenomenal!

So if you are on the fence about finding your go to mascara, give the mini Roller Lash a try from Ulta and that way, you can try it guiltlessly and if it works, come to the lashy side. I’m sure we’ll have cookies.


Read up on previous posts

Tales of the Tank - External Batteries

5 Things You Need If You’re Running Late

I know I’ve had my fair share of late mornings for various reasons including my own procrastination of the inevitable, so I’ve just about perfected my routine for such a morning. When running short on time, logic is your friend. I’ve been lucky enough to have some go to outfits for work or something planned either the night before or if I’m not particularly feeling it, then it’s best to stick to some basics.

1.     Coffee – it’s bad enough to wake up late or get out of the shower later than intended, so it’s better for the sake of everyone involved that if anything, you need your dose of caffeine. If your coffee pot has an auto start setting, then you’re ahead of the game. I have a Keurig, and it’s my life. I turn it on first thing in the morning and it stays on for an hour, just flip the switch, grab my k cup and a travel cup with a lid. Prefill my creamer and Truvia and let it set while I go wash up. Now I just have to get ready and make my coffee before it turns off

2.       Makeup – With my job, I normally have to be there about a half hour before opening. Why? I’m not sure because it literally takes me about 5-ish minutes to get set up for the day. So I have some travel makeup in my tank, aka my purse. I wrote about it some time back, so read ya some here about what I have in it. If I have a few minutes, I may start my makeup at home but I have no problem nor shame putting it on at work

3.       Perfume or Body spray – For days like this, I feel that when you smell good thought is put into your appearance regardless of how long it took you to get dressed. Also for this reason, I absolutely love travel size perfumes, thank you Birchbox, and sprays from Bath and Body Works. They fit in your purse, your desk, the console of your car or glove compartment. There is no excuse to not smell good.

 

4.       Scarf or staple accessory – On late days, when I don’t know what to wear or can’t decide, there’s a switch in my head to go with the basics like I mentioned at the beginning. For me this includes: some black slacks and a black blouse. To break up all the black, that’s when I grab for a vibrant scarf. I’m a total scarf addict and I feel like it’s easier to pick an accessory that’s dramatic and makes me smile in any weather when I just have to go by color(s). For me it’s a scarf, for someone else, it could be a statement necklace, whatever you have as a go to, go for it in less than 2 minutes.

5.       Bobby Pins – any girl knows that life isn’t complete without bobby pins. Pinterest gave me the best hack for carrying bobby pins in an empty pill bottle. There could be a few or a lot but it beats trying to find the 3 that you had in your hair last night because they tend to disappear like socks in the dryer.

So what you’ll do is:

·         start the coffee

·         go wash up (washing your face and brushing your teeth) get dressed and brush your hair

·         If time permits and if you can put foundation on in less than five minutes, put on your base

·         Make sure that your emergency makeup bag, perfume/spray, and bobby pins are in your purse

·         Grab a scarf and throw it over your head as you grab your already made coffee and you’re ready to run out the door.

This way if your make it to work even a few minutes early, just go straight to the bathroom and finish the makeup and pin your hair.

*I read this little article from the Huffington Post the other day about beauty products that every grown woman should have. Going through it, I can agree with most of them. They are pretty vague and basic, and sometimes we need simple and basic, but I think we can also just up it just a tad. So I want to go through Dana Oliver’s list with my two cents and you can take what you will and add your opinion in the comments.

1. Red Lipstick – Every grown woman needs some shade of red lipstick, or lippie as the new lingo goes. If you haven’t heard of the Lipstick Index or the Lipstick Effect, Google it and learn you some because this makes sense in an odd way. Red lipstick is always seen as a classic staple in makeup and has withstood the test of time. So what is noticed is that when financial times, like the stock market or the economy in general, is down or even in great or great tragic events, then the sales of lipstick, particularly in red, skyrocket. They saw it during the Great Depression, after 9/11, and the recession beginnings of 2008. This I totally agree with because anyone can stick with a standard drug store red and look like a million bucks without breaking the budget or have your designer but still not have to worry as much as say the purse or shoes from said designer. But I’d say the more modern way to go is the liquid lipstick or a pigmented lip balm. For people like me who lick their lips too much, it’s just important to know what works for you.

2-5. Facial Cleanser, Moisturizer, Concealer, Eye cream – I don’t know of any woman or girl for that matter who didn’t have issues when puberty hit. In my case, I had and still have extremely oily and crazy sensitive skin. During puberty, I think there was a bidding war between countries to see who’d place ‘dibbs’ on my face. Now, I have the acne scars and the pores remaining from those tough times and still have oily skin. But I do know how to combat them. Part of it is a great cleanser but I think more of it is finding out how your skin reacts to certain cleansers and the chemicals in these kinds of products. Long story short –LOOK AT THE INGREDIENTS!! It doesn’t matter the reviews on a product, if there is oil or certain acids, I put it down and back away. And if times are tough, look into some at home remedies, like warm tea bags (I prefer chamomile or green) over the eyes to help with puffiness or my newer love with le Eye Panda. Pinterest is amazing that way.  

6. Hair Dryer- Now this can go either way depending on how many of you rely on blow drying your hair. I can’t complain when I say that getting the right amount of volume is nice and I agree with Dana when saying a few extra bucks for quality is worth it, but I also know that my $20 Conair hair dryer has lasted about 7 years going over my hair that has ranged in length from above shoulder length, to the middle of my back. So if I am to take or leave this one, I’d probably leave it.

7. Sunscreen – this is not new because Dana is absolutely right when she quote Kerry Washington who said that there’s no excuse to not wear sunscreen daily, even in winter. If your foundation, BB cream, CC cream, etc doesn’t show SPF, then it has no business on your face.

8. Fragrance – Now the post says that they don’t believe that you “need” a signature scent but I beg to differ. Scent is the strongest sense tied to memory. Now do you need to douse yourself every day? No and please don’t, because you’ll stop smelling it on yourself and everyone will smell too much. Mix it up every now and then but having that staple can and will make you memorable in a good way if you do it right. That’s why even now into my mid twenties, I have a mix of great perfume and body spray.

9. Top coat nail polish – ok I wasn’t even allowed to wear nail polish until maybe 9^th grade, the Quinceaῆera milestone, aka Sweet 15, in the Hispanic community is very much strong in my family. But even then I knew if you didn’t have a base and topcoat, then forget about keeping that mani. So I’d leave that off of the ‘woman list’ since that should be learned at a younger age.

10. Mascara- I left this one for last because the sad little single sentence does NOT do this product justice. I love mascara. If I could only wear one thing, it’s mascara. “The eyes are the window to the soul.” Your lashes can be accentuated, appear longer, fuller, and act as an accent without taking the importance away from the eyes. No offense to the false lashes, even I’ll wear them occasionally, but when you find your soul mascara, then you are on top of the world in my opinion. I've got my go-to's and some new loves here if you wanna look that way.


Here's the article btw

Weekend Travel - I Got This!

Packing for a weekend does seem hard right? I was heading up to spend the weekend with my BFF, it is tax free weekend and since he lives in a bigger city, it just made sense. Part of getting myself together is a lot of throw it as you go and sometimes it works but more times it does not. It may be normal to feel like you’re forgetting something but it’s a totally different thing when you really are forgetting something and remembering it all when you’re twenty miles out. However, on the plus side I do have some things that never fail to work every time.

Now I will say that I don’t do as much travelling as I would like, but I’m all for having the right tools for the right situation. So when I go to town since my BFF and I are house sitting, he is using what will be his messenger back pack… If I could take a picture of the face I made I would but I can’t so I won’t. I had the same issue with my boyfriend. One of the first few trips we made, he carried his stuff in a plastic bag. This would not due. This is a guy who’s travelled a bit, like a lot more than I have. And the last straw was when he going to have another big guy trip with his crew. So I could Not NOT be a good girlfriend and let that happen. That was one year where I was so proud of my Christmas present.

I’m a huge fan of bags, big and small. There’s always something that can be compartmentalized, especially for a trip. I have 3 that I will always pack no matter what. One for makeup, one for bathroom stuff, and one for a few other things that don’t go with the other two.

My ‘beauty’ bag was probably one of the greatest finds at Forever 21. It’s small but holds a ton and a half. I have my primers, makeup basics, and brushes all in one bag. I have different brush brands so they are different sizes but the Lawd is on my side because they all fit and it zips into the little square shape. The bigger pink one is one that I have my must-haves, hair comb because my hair is so short now that I don’t really need a brush, my deodorant because duh, and a body spray. When my hair was longer, I had a slew of rubber bands and bobby pins, but kinda don’t need it anymore minus the bobby pins, those just tend to disappear.

Now don’t judge the giant zip lock bag, there is a method to the madness. Bathroom stuff is messy. Whether its shampoo and conditioner or the baby powder and baby oil, zip lock bags are the easiest things to use and to replace. If you’re traveling, definitely they will save your life and the rest of your luggage. When I went to Vegas, my friend had his toiletries in one corner of his suitcase and they leaked. On a different occasion, one of my aunts made a trip to the Land of Enchantment from back east, back in the Aqua Net days and her can of hair spray exploded. Just think about it. Would you rather have a mess over everything in your suitcase including the suitcase itself OR would you rather have it in a clear plastic bag that you can just dump in the sink and rinse it off?

I think everyone should have a few sizes as far as bags for travel. One for overnight, one for a weekend, and one for everything else. If you’ve read my Emergencies post then you’ve seen my go-to silver bag. I’d say it’s a solid weekender bag. There’s a ton of space and even though you know that the material is a bit thin, it is sturdy as hell. I’m kind of hard on my bags and yet, this one has made it thru every trip I’ve had with it so far. Moral of the story, if you’re going to spend money, make it count because quality can mean pretty cute and pretty practical.  

Too Young? Take a Double Take

I saw this mini post from Fashionista and I couldn’t stay away. There’s apparently a lot of controversy over it and I really wish there was more to the article than there was, but on the other hand, it does leave a lot open for discussion. Oh internet, gotta love it.

Mario Dedivanovic is a celebrity makeup artist, notably for Kim Kardashian but she’s not important. The key words are Celebrity MakeUp Artist. As in he gets paid high dollar for artistic work in the form of makeup. So he does have an idea of what good makeup is. He knows what he's talking about when looking at the picture, which of course, blew up on le Instagram.

Honestly, I can kind of see how this can be taken the wrong way. I attribute that, partially, to living in a conservative part of the country but I’m also from a close traditional Hispanic family. Children are supposed to be innocent and little and I’m all for stalling the adulthood process. However, I don’t have kids and I see this in a different way and from looking at some of the comments, so do a lot of other people.

I started dancing at 5. I did ballet, tap, jazz, my personal favorite being ballet folklorico so any time we had a performance, there my mom was putting on my makeup. Now as a five year old looking at myself in full coverage cakey paint with red marks on my cheeks and my most hated enemy…. the black stuff on my eye lashes that never completely came out until I washed my face a dozen times. And it was expected for it to be weird and eventually annoying because yes, I was a child. But it was so worth it and it came with the gig. As I grew older I got used to it and learned how to do it myself, however comma, that was the only time I was allowed to wear it.

My family is definitely on the old fashioned side. I was lucky when I could shave my legs at the age of twelve and that is because I was so intimidated by everyone in my class who wore shorts and dresses and I honestly only ever wore pants because I wasn't allowed to shave my legs. I pushed some of the boundaries in junior high with some light eye shadow and the only mascara I was allowed to use was a clear one from some tween brand that doesn’t even exist anymore. But 15 was the magic number. Then I could wear makeup on a daily basis, do my eyebrows, date, the possibilities were endless. Did it suck getting there? Of course it did, puberty sucks for everyone.

Bringing it back to this controversial photo, I think that people forget that there are differences between my dance makeup story at five as a regular person who had no idea what the internet was at that time and this child model getting makeup applied by a makeup artist for a professional photo shoot. Now Mario did not do this look on the little model. He posted a picture of artistic work from his industry. This young girl obviously had a real life job to do and she did it fantastically and is looking cute and glamorous and confident, which is probably where the 'future daughter' part comes from.

The argument could be made that it is spreading the idea of over sexualizing girls and they are just getting younger and younger but forced to grow up. There’s the fighting over pageant girls who look like tiny adults but even look that the comparison sample via google images. 

Are their similarities? Yes and why is that? Because they are performing! Whether it be pageants, dance recitals, modeling, or making movies require makeup and when it comes to photos they also require editing. That's just how it is. When someone is getting paid and especially paid well, then they are going to bring out their best work. Whether or not, someone goes overboard on the photoshop is a different can of worms. All that being said, it should be obvious that these kids do not go out every day like this. 

The fact remains that there was a job to be done and that’s how child stars are born. Mario Dedivanovic isn’t saying that all little girls should rock a winged eyeliner with a super cute lip. And honestly, if you think that is what is happening, then reconsider having kids or if you do have kids, then it’s up to you to show them otherwise. There's more than 'face value' so to speak so before you get offended, just think about it a minute before writing up a petition.

Tales of the Tank - Makeup

As much as we try not to rush around in the morning, we have those times where we wake up and realize that you have about thirty minutes to get up, wash up, get dressed and get to work on time. Let’s be honest, it happens. To some people, more often than they care to admit. You can ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you about my Tank. I have tanks for purses. They aren’t huge tote bags, although my mom says that it should be. I’ve also heard all the “you’re going to hurt your back, shoulders, etc with the size and weight of your purse.” Tell that to the publishers who make $300 text books.

Any-who,

I have a system and it works for me for just about any situation. And for the occasional late-waking-up-day and frantically flying to work, I have found that sometimes it’s just easier to get ready and bring my makeup with me to do at work. (read about that here). I know some don’t approve but I am also a person who wears makeup every day and don’t feel like I’m properly dressed for my professional setting without my makeup. I was also not blessed with great skin, so there’s that too. It’s just one of those things.

Anyways, I have this cute little bag that lives in my tank and has saved me many a time whether it be at work, or just out. And it has been the best little makeup carrier ever and the best part was it was about five dollars at Big Lots.

The top zipper lets me stock it with a couple eye liners, brushes, and bobby pins. Easy to see and easy access. The bag zipper holds my face powder, oil blotting sheets, lip balms, lip butters, mascaras, the occasional hair ties, and of course a compact mirror. On a trip, I’ll pack in my Naked Basics eye shadows and Flushed pallet and it all fits! Throw in my purse and I am set for the day. It doesn’t take up a lot of space in my bag and touch ups throughout the day are conquered.

I love finding great finds on the cheap. Of course what woman doesn’t love sales and when you have something that works, you stick to it like waterproof mascara. High quality and top dollar aren’t always together, sometimes you just find the best things at Big Lots on a Sunday afternoon after eating breakfast with family at Ihop. Sometimes the good Lord just knows that you need something awesome in your life and like my mom says, “there are too few joys in life.” Can I get an amen?

Some days, we just need a little extra help and this is where the purse comes in. I can understand using a clutch for an event, but how you get anything done anywhere in those teeny tiny coin purses is beyond me. Especially when I got my kindle for my birthday a couple years back, I had it attached to me everywhere so my purses have to be at least big enough for a Kindle Fire HD 8.9. Yes that is a big mofo of a tablet but it is so worth it.

Bottom line is that no one can be too prepared for any situation, whether it is get to work in the style of the Fast and the Furious, or to an event that you plan on attending straight after work, or just in case the khol pencil you were trying out now makes you look like a raccoon, the tank holds most if not all the solutions. This little bag has saved me a few times and a lot of others have something similar. What do you carry in yours?

Signature Style

Call me typical, call it dumb, call it whatever. I don't care. I love reading me some Cosmopolitan. In this recent issue, there was one article that really struck a chord with me and it was about signatures.

Everyone has their own style. It's great to go and experiment with different things, clothes, makeup, etc. We've all seen the pictures over years of all our "phases" in life, but there's always something you go back to. Something that signifies you to yourself and everyone knows that "IT" is your thing.

For Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada, it was her Hermes scarves. For my grandma, its White Diamonds perfume. And for myself, my sister, my aunt/second mama, and my mama, it's the Maybelline Great Lash mascara in Royal Blue and a winged liner.

It's our thing. We'll mix it up but every time someone notices on me, the look on their faces is priceless. They always expect some super high end makeup when in all actuality its about $4-5 at Walgreens or Wal-Mart. I would buy it in bulk if I could. Now it may not be waterproof but it is thorough. It's standard, simple packaging with a standard, simple applicator. It's my rock of makeup and has my heart forever and a day.

Everyone needs their staple. We have fashion and makeup as a symbol of our individuality and creativity. The late Oscar De La Renta said, "Fashion is about dressing according to what's fashionable. Style is more about being yourself." We spend so much time trying this and that and keeping up with the new trends that it's nice coming back to something you know that works. It's easy that you can always come back to. It's comfortable and just makes you feel good. So find that signature and work it.