Happy Halloween

Ian out Trick or Treating. We went downtown and visited some businesses that were handing out candy. In town center Darth Vader was waiting and Ian got to light saber battle with him for a piece of candy. Then we trick or treated in the dorms of the college I work at so we could avoid the cold wet weather. Some floors were really into it with decorations and dressed up students. They were really nice to Ian and his friend Isabelle who went with us. It was a fun time.

Happy Halloween!

The One With All The Makeup

Over the past year or two I have become increasingly obsessed with into all things makeup.  I'm not sure what sparked my interest but I have really been enjoying playing with new ways to enhance myself and it makes me feel more confident to be a little dolled up.

So here are my favorite "can't live without 'em" products.  Please keep in mind that while some of these items are more expensive I have accumulated them over time and often with gift cards earned via my work wellness program.  Besides, I'm worth it.  Or at least that is what L'Oreal told me. ;)  Since makeup makes me feel better about myself I consider it an investment in my happiness.

Also, I should note that while I have a lot of stuff listed my routine in the morning takes about 10 minutes!  Easy-Peasy!  Smear on the BB Cream, conceal around eyes, apply blush, sweep on some combination of eye shadow, sometimes some eye liner, then mascara.  Brush and tame the hair.  Done!

1.  NARS blush, particularly the color Luster.  Blush is my one major "can't live without it" makeup item and this one is a current favorite.  I am both a little embarrassed and impressed with my collection of blushes (I have seven of them!)  I just can't live without blush.  My complexion is very dull and almost grayish, so without adding a little color I end up looking impermanently sickly.  Another favorite is Benefit Coralista (pictured) for how much it brightens up my face.  I had a mini of this one until just recently when I splurged on the full size.

2.  Stila eyeshadow.  Their shadows are the best in my opinion, and give great, bendable color.  I started out trying the travel palettes that had a couple shadows in they, because they were cheaper and I could try them out.  Then I found a great deal on a set of singles from Sephora, and as of when I publish this it is still available on clearance.  My favorite colors that I used most now are Coco, Poise, Copper and Kitten (pictured in this order).  With Stila, you can use the shadow dry or with a wet brush for a deeper look, or I will use a wet angle brush to use it like eyeliner.   

3.  L'Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Mascara.  I received this mascara as part of a House Party pack for Redbook and L'Oreal, and after trying it I have fell in love with that it does for my lashes.  It doesn't make them all crunchy and flaky like lots of mascara do, and my lashes are so full.  I just love it.  

4.  Benefit Boi-ing concealer.  I have this little Benefit Boi-ing/Lemon-Aid compact from Ulta currently, and I just love these two so much, but most Boi-ing is my must have.  It covers the darkness under my eyes so well and I haven't found a concealer to beat it yet.  Mostly I use the Lemon-Aid half as an eye shadow primer.

5.  My favorite brand of nail polish is Essie and currently the colors I can't live without are Spinning Again (brick red), Raspberry, and Meet Me At Sunset (vibrant orange.)  For my nails Essie lasts the longest so it is my favorite.  I figure it is cheaper to buy nail polish to paint my nails myself, then to get manicures and pedicures.  (Not pictured because I am a dumb ass and forgot to put the polishes in the picture above.)

6.  Garnier B.B. Crean Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector, is my go to moisturizer makeup.  I am pretty new to using it (have been using it for about 2 months) and I am totally hooked.  The new B.B. Cream (Beauty Balm) fad is actually really cool.  It has all these great skin benefits and makes your skin look so nice and smooth.  Not to mention it is super fast to apply.  I highly recommend it to anyone.

7.  EcoTools makeup brushes - I find that makeup applies so much nicer when you use a brush but so many sets are really expensive.  EcoTools brushes are really reasonably priced, work just perfectly, and are good for the planet to boot!

So that is my makeup obsessed favorites.  I'm curious, what are your favorite cosmetic products?  

My Fall Favorites and an Update

I know it has been a while since I last posted.  Just a quick update on me and then onto a list of my fall favorite things.

Since my last post my health too a nose dive and after seeing multiple doctors I finally got answers to why I got Erythema Nodosum and why I was feeling so awful and was short of breath just doing everyday tasks.  I had a bronchoscopy, where they go in through your nose and into the lungs to take tissue samples, and they determined that I have Sarcoidosis (an inflammatory disease.)  Since then I have been on medication that is helping a lot and I am mostly back to normal.  I still can't work out or anything like that without getting out of breath but I am so much better and a lot happier.

Now that is out of the way, we can get on to the fun stuff.  Fall is my favorite time of year.  I love the colors, the smells, the food, and the feeling in the air!  So here are a few things I just can't live without during this most glorious time of year.


1. Fall baked goods and all things with pumpkin and pumpkin spice.  I could sustain life on pumpkin bread this time of year.  It is my favorite of all things edible and I will always be a baking fool come fall.  This year I picked up the magazine below and I can't wait to try out some new fall recipes this year.

2. The colors of fall are by far my favorite colors anytime of year.  When the trees burst into flaming colors and that crisp fall feeling hits the air, I'm in my glory.  Red, orange, yellow, brown.  Since these colors are my favorites I feel like I belong in fall when everything is blanketed in rich, warm colors.

3. The colors of fall usually spread to my look come fall as well.  As soon as I started feeling fall was here I was itching to color my hair a richer red, and deepen my makeup and nail polish colors (favorite makeup post to come sometime soon!)  

4.  Then there is Halloween and Thanksgiving.  Christmas is great, but my heart will always love Halloween the most.  I get to get out my pumpkin collection (yeah, I collect little pumpkins, not jack-o-lanterns but pumpkins!) and decorate the house with ghosts a plenty.  Thanksgiving is a close second, because I always feel like family is closer together at Thanksgiving than Christmas...or maybe that is just me.  Of course, thanksgiving goes back to the food.  Oh, yum, the foods of fall.  ;)

I would love to know what is your favorite parts about fall?  Or if fall isn't your cup of tea, what is your favorite season and why?

Speaking of tea, lets add that to the list too!

5. Big warm cups of tea in the evening.  My favorite is chai tea, but just about any tea will do.