Lashes

Real talk time- I was running on five hours of sleep, the little man was sick, and the boy cat (who's fixed) was acting like he was in heat. I hadn't even got out of bed and already the day felt like it was spiraling out of control. There was just no way I was going to let that happen. Getting out of bed I decided I was going to slay this day. Absolutely slay. Nothing, or no one, was going to get in my way, and if they did they were going to understand why I'm sometimes called the "Ice Queen". I was channeling my inner Sasha Fierce.

My clothes were on point. My makeup was on point. Right before I walked out the door I figured there was no better day than today to push myself out of my comfort zone and wear some lash extensions. It was the right decision.

BAM!
Never having worn lash extensions before I was a little nervous at first putting them on, but it really was a breeze. These were 3D Mink extensions and they were *ohmigosh so soft and fluffy*! I can definitely see why lots of ladies wear them, and I can see myself wearing them on more than one occasion.

On days like this I have found myself turning to the same makeup products that make me feel like a boss, and I want to share them with you. Some of these might look familiar as they're old staples, but some are new work horses that have worked with me almost all year.

1. Rimmel Stay Matte Primer // 2. Maybelline FitMe Foundation Stick (130)
3. Maybelline FitMe Foundation (128) // 4. Physicians Formula Bronze Booster

4. Maybelline Color Tattoo (Barely Branded) // 5. Rimmel Lash Accelerator Serum
6. Rimmel Scandaleyes Mascara Lycra Flex (01) // 7. NYX Cosmetics Slide On Eye Pencil (Gun Metal)
8. Wet n Wild MegaLast Lip Color (Think Pink)
The bronzer I actually double up as eye shadow, and I layer it on the outside covers of my eyes over the cream shadow. The color is warm but sharp, if that makes any sense, and adds to the "fierce" look I go for.

The serum I've been using for almost a year now. One bad tube of mascara last year made my eye lashes fall out at an alarming rate. MY PRECIOUS EYELASHES WERE *MY THING*. It was the one aspect of my body I was most proud of. My mother has told me all my life how long and beautiful my eyelashes were from day one. Strangers would complement me on my long lashes. I can't tell you how upsetting it was to see them just falling out. Obviously I stopped using that mascara, swore off mascara for almost two months, then found this serum and have been using it ever since. I can honestly say it has helped my lashes grow. They aren't as long or as full as they used to be, but they're getting there. I'm hoping that if I keep up using it maybe by next year they'll be close to back to where they belong. Until then I might just have to keep wearing lash extensions, hehe!

To be honest these were a bit too long for me to wear on a daily basis (but were super fun!) so I'll probably be trimming them up for next time. And there will absolutely be a next time.

Have you ever worn lash extensions before? What type do you like? ♥

These lashes were sent to me by Tricky Hair but all thoughts and opinions are my own. Tricky Hair sells clip in hair extensions and 3D Mink Eye Lashes. Visit them at Tricky Hair Extensions.

11 Minute Mommy Hair and Makeup - Mini Interruptions Included

Let's talk about getting ready in the morning with a baby around. Long gone are the days of spending an hour on myself each morning primping, doing my hair and makeup. With a baby crawling around (soon to be walking) getting into things, needing up, wanting down, getting him ready and out the door so we can take Aaron to work... mornings can be hectic. (Understatement of the year, hah!)

Since Dean has been born I have worked on a routine to get myself ready quickly and as stress free as possible. Here is a little video of how I get my hair and makeup done in the morning with baby around. I hope you like it!



I need to work on the lighting and I was very nervous recording this video.
First off I stick Dean in a little jumpy thing with toys so he's contained and busy while I'm getting ready. He doesn't always like it in there but it works long enough for me to get done. Of course the day I filmed this video he was an angel and hardly interrupted me at all- yay!

My curling iron is pretty hot, which allows me to curl all my hair fast. So on mornings I blow-dry and curl my hair I put a heat protection product on it so keep it from becoming too damaged. Starting from the left front and working towards the back I curl my hair in ringlets. Then I work the right from front to back. This typically takes me about 6 minutes. I don't touch my hair once I'm done, I'll come back to it after I do my makeup and it has time to cool down.

Next I prime my face, put on concealer, foundation, bronzer, eye shadow, eyeliner, mascara, and lip balm. This takes me about 5 minutes. Very last, I ruffle the roots of my hair pretty vigorously- just the roots though. This loosens up the curls for a more natural look. Hairspray and done!

Products used:
Maybelline FitMe Foundation Stick
Maybelline FitMe Matte & Poreless Foundation
Maybelline FitMe Powder
Physician Formula Powder Palette Mineral Glow Pearls
Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tatoo Eye Shadow
Rimmel ScandalEyes Jumbo Eyeliner
L'Oreal Miss Manga Mascara

Even with little interruptions from Dean and a call from Aaron I can get this done in about 11-13 minutes. Not only am I ready but I feel good about myself. Confident. Maybe it's just me, but I'm way more productive when I'm feeling confident. Like some bad-ass mommy super hero. It is just me? Haha ok, that's alright in my book.

Do you have any tips or tricks that work for you? Do you do anything special with your little ones to help you get ready in the morning?

This post was originally written four months ago (when Dean was 12 months old) and, while I don't keep him inside the little jumpy-thingy, I still keep this routine

I hit the pan!

Hitting the bottom of a make up product is something that I dreaded in the past. I had this fear that once I used up a product it was gone forever never to be found, used, or loved again. It's pretty extreme, I know.

That is probably why I have so much make up... yeah it's definitely a factor.

To my surprise when I hit the pan of my new Snow White ELF eye shadow set, I was excited. "Look at that! I loved this so much you can tell by how much I'm using it!"

My first thought to myself was "Wow! I should go buy another one!" Haha! I haven't done it... yet. The creamy yellow is the perfect base color and blends in exactly with my cream eye shadow base. That color with the pretty gold on the upper left (and a baby bit of the brown in the bottom right)~ that combination gets me more compliments than I probably have ever in my life. This isn't an exaggeration.

Also this week, I hit the pan on my powder. Seeing this silver poke out doesn't freak me. There is always more powder.

This is the second compact this summer I have purchased of this particular brand and shade, and I will absolutely be buying another one. My dry skin has never looked good with powder, but since I had the baby my skin has acted differently and, for whatever, reason this powder just really works. It has great coverage without being heavy or cake-y.

Pretty soon I'll be hitting the pan on a Two Faced pallet my mom got me for Christmas. More creams and golds in that set are running a bit low.

When was the last time you hit the pan on a make up product? Is it a big deal for you? ♥

Basic Travel Cosmetics

This is one of those posts I've thought about writing every time I go on a trip to Seattle or Portland. The trips are typically just over nighters so I don't bring a lot. I was so close to writing one for PAX weekend then decided against it. Then my friend Eve wrote a post about what she brought to Seattle that weekend and encouraged me to write one of my own. So here we go.

If some of these items look familiar it's because they're the same items I've been using all summer (as seen here). Some are new items I've splurged on since then.



■ Maybelline Fit Me! Foundation Stick
■ Physicians Formula Mineral Glow Pearls
■ Maybelline Fit Me! Pressed Powder
■ Covergirl + Olay Tone Rehab CC Cream
■Maybelline Master Smoky Eye Liner
■L'Oreals Vouminous Miss Manga


■Maybelline Color Tatoo 24 Hour Cream Eyeshadow
■E.L.F. Snow White Eyeshadow set

Those are the items I wore over the weekend. And these are all the products I brought with me that weekend.


Pretty silly, I know, but I was feeling really unsure about myself. There really was no need to worry about it. I ended up wearing the products that I feel the best in, which is my every day stuff. One night I even brought out the red lip stain. I felt bold. Haha! This weekend was a confirmation for me to stick with what I know works and what I feel best in.

Me wearing this make up today. Also goofing off at work with one of the new chocobo plushies that arrived from Japan. It's so cute!

The Manga mascara is pretty great (a wee bit on the clumpy side) but really gives my lashes the look I desire~ full and long. The Tattoo eyeshadow I've been using as a base for all of my eyeshadows. It really does stay for the long haul which is great. There has been a few times I've forgotten to wash my face at night and Aaron will ask me in the morning if I had already done my makeup because my eyes look great. Quite an endorsement, hehe!

What do you bring on trips? Do you have travel sized makeup instead of the full sized ones? <3

My Summer Makeup Routine

I did it. I recorded a video for the blog. Actually I recorded TWO but I'll save the second one for another day. This video is about my current daily makeup routine. It's something I've been wanting to do for a while now since I'm really really liking the products I'm using. Please enjoy the cheesiness of this video, I'm out of practice!


The products I use are:
■ Covergirl + Olay Tone Rehab CC Cream
■ Maybelline Fit Me! Foundation Stick
■ Maybelline Fit Me! Pressed Powder
■ Physicians Formula Mineral Glow Pearls
Dean spent part of his afternoon in the bouncer watching take after take after take... he was a good sport. He just sat there and watched me stand in front of his changing table with boxes and books stacked up on it so I could record the videos. I'm sure it was quiet a sight to see, ha! There's no illusions here about me being one of those Youtube gals who's all put together making videos. Nope! I'm a gal who's desk is blocked by the co-sleeper so I have to record videos on the changing table with my ipod stacked on top of lots of things

I hope this week is treating you well! So far so good for us. We've been able to take some time away from the store so we can focus on things at home. I have a big project planned for the blog this week and next. It was inspired by something in a Japanese fashion magazine and involves clothes. Once I get the pictures taken (hopefully tonight, fingers crossed) I'll be able to share more about it. Until then~ ♥