SweetCheeks - Blogging About Beauty, Fashion, Weightloss, Etc.

Sorry I've been MIA!

2011-03-30T09:15:00.000-04:00

Sorry I haven't posted in a bit. I was pretty annoyed with the fitness company I've been with in regards to issues with my booking a trainer and the like. My first training session didn't happen as it turned out the girl had quit.. got no word from the company or the trainer about her quitting and on top of that she'd double booked.

I was placed with a new trainer who gave me a few new exercises, however, they're supposed to fill out a 3 day workout card for you so you can follow the workout on your own and she only filled out one day :-(

Anyway, I got things worked out on day three and one of the owners worked out with me. Suffice to say I was dead the next day, hahah. Then I proceeded to get really sick. I've been down with a stomach issue since Saturday and haven't been able to go to the gym.

I will post back with some of the exercises that kick my butt and how to so them. Anyways, last time I weighed myself I was 141.5

13 Days at the Gym!

2011-03-15T08:46:00.000-04:00

Happy Tuesday Ladies and Gents! :-)

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and a great start to the week. I love Tuesdays. I feel like it's Wednesday today for some reason.

The scale said 143 today. Woo!

I went to a group Spinning class last night. Oh my goodness. I am definitely not a fan of bikes but I really wanted to try this because I've heard great things about how it makes you feel and how many calories you burn over 45 minutes. Ladies, Gents, I was DRIPPING sweat! These ladies in the class were CRAZY!

I had a lot of fun despite being a bit discouraged that I was WAY behind everyone and couldn't always do what the instructor was shouting for.

The class was held in a rather small room with about 20-30 stationary bikes. The lights were kept off and it was rather chilly in the room when I first got in (thank goodness for that or I'd probably have passed out from being too hot). The instructor was really great and helped me set up the bike. When I was first pedaling with them and standing up on the bike it was really difficult. I don't think I had my positioning correct so it was REALLY burning a lot in the tops of my thighs so I sat quite a bit. However, toward the end of the class I finally got my positioning right and it was AWESOME!

I thought I was going to be dead in my legs today but I'm not.. i don't know if this is because I wasn't doing it right or running has helped out my stamina. Anyways, I will definitely be trying this again. Maybe next Monday :-)

I ran outside on Sunday for a 3.5 and got it down in 35 minutes. I'm going to start doing two days running outside to train for a 5k (3.5 miles) in May.

If anyone else lives in the North Shore you should look into this walk/run.
NEPC Cool Kids 5k

This race is to raise money for the New England Pediatric Care
New England Pediatric Care

There is an option to walk or run and there is a raffle, food, and music after the race finishes. I've done this (walking) the past two years and it is just incredible. Everyone is just really amazing and friendly. If you are interested in running (or walking!) the NEPC Cool Kids 5k link will take you to a page where you can register.

If you are interested in donating you can follow the link below :-) Please let me know if you decide to go as I would LOVE to meet any of you
Donate to NEPC

Thanks so much for reading my blog!!
NEPC Cool Kids 5k

Late Update

2011-03-12T10:22:00.000-05:00

Sorry I didn't post on Tuesday!

My weigh-in was 143.5. I'm down 1/2 a pound, lol. I had quite a few treats this week that I probably shouldn't have... 4 cookies! :-( Chocolate is seriously my weakness.

I WAS eating those calcium chews in a chocolate flavor but they've become disgusting to me. I'm still forcing myself to eat them because I use Depo Provera as a birth control and it's been proven to deplete calcium in women's bones and I'm not a big milk drinker. I don't want to have any kind of bone related illness when I'm older so I'm trying to prevent that. Anyone have any suggestions?

My trainer canceled on Tuesday.. it made me really disappointed but I've still been going to the gym. My running has gone up to 3 miles on the treadmill in 26 minutes. That's about 8 minutes a mile. I WAS at 10 minutes so that's cool :-) I've dropped 2 minutes!

I discovered an AWESOME way to do squats... that I'm sure you've all heard of, lol, but I'm going to share anyway.

Using one of those big bouncy balls between your back and the wall.. just above the small of your back. You lean against that with your feet slightly out so that you ARE actually balancing against the ball and then you slowly roll down into a sitting position where your thighs and butt are parallel to the floor and then slowly slide back up.

I think I've been doing squats ALL wrong since this has totally killed my thighs with like 20 less squats. I have an exaggerated curve to my back that this has alleviated.

Happy Tuesday!

2011-03-01T15:13:00.000-05:00

According to my scale today (after my breakfast) I weigh 144 lbs.

Woo! I love that I've been staying under 150, even after I've cheated on my healthy eating :-( Hehe.

My breakfast is usually a bowl of Oats & More (Market Basket brand) with a banana or an apple and coffee... or quaker oats instant oatmeal and coffee.

For lunch I usually make a sandwich (not a huge carb eater but can't say no to bread.. and wheat thins!) and snack on some carrots (good crunch factor). Sometimes I will go with eggs and make a 2 egg omelet with a bit of grated cheddar and black olives.

Dinner varies but I eat a lot of pork, chicken, and lean hamburg with corn, or spinach, or green beans, or broccoli.

For my weightloss I've been trying to stick between 1200-1500 calories a day depending on how much I work out. If I don't work out than I try to stick close to 1200. To count my calories I use the iPhone application My Fitness Pal, however, they have a website you can use as well... you can track your calories and your exercise.. although at times it can be a guess-timation if the database doesn't have the exact food you've eaten. It was annoying to try and add in my Insanity workouts..

I got a gym membership today and I am super excited but also a little nervous. I feel like it may be hard for me to keep going to the gym on my own (none of my friends wanted to join). However, the gym I joined is one of the ONLY ones I was able to find that have group exercises like... after 10am, haha. I think going to a few group exercises a week will keep me motivated to go to the gym even though I am on my own.

On the treadmill it took me about 30 mins to run 3 miles. However, when I'm outside my time is a few minutes faster. Weird, huh? So, today I ran 3 miles and did some floor workouts like sit ups, push ups, and various plank work. I'm trying to decide what to do on certain days.. I know it will be important to keep my workout one that varies from day-to-day so I don't get bored and my weight loss doesn't plateau.

Some tips I wanted to give to you guys:

STRETCH!! I cannot stress this enough... You should warm up for about 5 minutes (more if you're a beginner) before you begin any vigorous exercise. Following your warm up you should stretch. When you're stretching make sure you are not straining, do not force a stretch too far (don't try and do a split if you can't... or touch the floor between your feet if you can't). Hold a stretch to the point where you can feel the pull in your muscle and then keep it there. As you progress in your exercise you will become more flexible. Also, do not BOUNCE when you are stretching.

FORM!! This is another big one. When you are performing an exercise you need to make sure you are performing it correctly. If you are lunging make sure that your back leg is straight and your front knee does NOT go past your toe. At first this may take you a while to get down... that is not a big deal. Before you try to pound out 100 lunges or something make sure you are doing them right. Not only could you injure yourself but more likely than not you are not getting the benefit of the exercise by performing it badly.

If you are someone that is trying to loose weight and you are strength training (lifting weights) than you should be working with low pound weights and high repetitions. This means 3-5 pound weights and no less than 15 repetitions. If you work with heavy weights you are going to bulk up your muscles.. and muscle weighs more than fat so you could actually see the scale telling you higher numbers and this could lead to you getting discouraged.

Hope you guys enjoyed this post :-) Have a great week!

I cheated!

2011-02-22T12:12:00.000-05:00

Happy Tuesday!

I weighed myself this morning and was 146.5. I had pizza and drinks on Sunday so I wasn't surprised to learn that I hadn't lost any weight. I also only ran 2 days this week because I caught a bit of a cold and felt like I was getting shin splints.

Be careful for those runners out there that are just getting started... make sure you warm up well and stretch stretch stretch!! Muscles are so much more prone to injury in cold weather. I felt it was best for me to take a break and make sure I wasn't injured than to push myself just to make sure I was meeting my goal. Sometimes things happen :-(

I'm feeling a little bad about my pizza and drinks and that I gained back a pound but I'm not going to let that interfere with me continuing to exercise... or to make me feel bad about myself!! Bah!

It's 22 degrees here (feels like 10) today so I will be doing Insanity Cardio Power and Resistance in the house.

If anyone has tried this or wants to but is intimidated... don't be!! You can modify a lot of the exercises for beginning levels and just slow it down if, at first, it is too fast-paced for you. That's what I do for a lot of the jumping and push-ups. I'm just not that strong yet... but I make sure that I stay moving and try my hardest.

Have a great week everyone!! I will definitely be back with a post next Tuesday but there may be another one this week :-)

Update for 2011

2011-02-18T12:58:00.000-05:00

Hello Ladies (and gents, maybe?)

I know it has been a long time since I posted last and I've said this before... and also said I was going to try and post more... and yet here we are again, haha.

This was originally going to be a blog about my weightloss journey... I thought that if I started writing about it online and got some followers I would be more inclined to continue with exercising, eating right.. and I could loose weight and keep it off. But I didn't. I am such a classic case of the yo-yo dieter. I go a couple weeks, maybe even a month.. where I eat well and exercise on the regular... then I drop off of it be it for stress in my work life (or lack of work life) or trouble with my knees or something... just an excuse. Also, if I see I've lost a couple pounds then for some reason I am more inclined to eat a cookie.. or several spoonfulls of ice cream. It doesn't even matter if I don't have these things in my house... I go buy them.

Does anyone else do this? I feel like I'm probably not the only one... I'm so one of those people that eats their feelings too... or eats when they're bored.

For 2011 I vowed to myself that I would exercise at LEAST 3 days a week... for the most part I've done this and it's been great! I've only lost about 4 pounds but it's been off this whole time so... that's sweet.

I haven't set any serious weightloss goals... like 2 pounds a week or whatever because I feel like it'd make me depressed if I didn't achieve that and then I'd eat and GAIN weight.

I've also still been dealing with unemployment. It sucks so bad. I'm on year number 2... gawd. Just writing that makes me feel so awful. I know in this also I'm not alone but it's hard not to feel that way when you're surrounded by people who HAVE jobs, haha. Also, in all that time I only had like 3 interviews. That's nuts right?!

Ugh. So, pretty much nothing has changed over here since my last post. Lol. Sad but true. Still loving makeup.... still with the same guy (and we're still living together)... still trying to remain positive that I'll find a job and be able to pay my bills with said job AND hopefully put SOMETHING away in the bank. I got my taxes done and was pleasantly surprised to learn that I WILL get a bit of return even though I've been unemployed. That's nice.

Anyway, I will be posting (hopefully) weekly and giving you guys updates on what I've been doing, both makeup, life, and exercise wise. I will be doing weekly weigh ins (on Tuesdays) so the posts will either be done Tuesday or Wednesday, even though it's Friday right now. Hahah. My last weigh in put me at 145.5 and I am roughly 5'1". I've also been using my wii fit and it has given me a BMI (body mass index) of like 26... last time I was on it it was 28... both are overweight according to it.. for like my height and age and stuff, however, the recommended weight is 116 and I just don't think I will EVER weigh that... and I don't think I really want to. My ideal weight right now is 130. So, I have about 15 pounds to loose. :-(

I'm using Fitness Pal on my iPhone (and on the website) to track my calories... the calories that I eat and the calories that I burn while exercising. It's a little tough to do that when I do the Insanity workouts but they are mostly cardio and calisthenics (push ups, etc.) so I just type that in.

If anyone is interested in joining me on this that would be so great! You could leave comments to the posts on how you've done for the week... etc. If you all have a similar blog feel free to link to me and I will try and read every one and comment as well.

Cyber Monday Haulage

2010-12-23T09:56:00.000-05:00

I did almost all of my Christmas shopping on the Monday following Thanksgiving, also known as Cyber Monday. I shopped through Ebates. If you guys don't know about it, oh boy, you should TOTALLY join up. The following link will take you to Ebates and, if you sign up and shop, gives me AND you $5 :-) You could go to Ebates on your own but wouldn't a free $5 be cool?

Ebates referral

Ebates is a website for online shopping which has a TON of stores on it. You sign up and then just log in to your Ebates account and click on your favorite store links through Ebates and go online shopping. Ebates gives you a percentage of your spent money back via check. For example, elf (eyeslipsface) cosmetics has several coupons going right now including 50% off all Studio makeup with a $25+ order using the code BCGSTU50 and through Ebates you get 4.0% of your total back!

I spent $150 on Monday and got a check for $11.15 :-) Pretty cool. Now you can watch the percentages and shop when they are highest and get MORE money back. Okay, on to my purchases.

I bought several of these Dickies Pocket Tees for my Grandfather, they are his favorite things to wear to work. I bought some last year as well and they have held up really well. Old Navy has some great t-shirts too but I like these better :-)

Dickies Pocket Tee

For my father I bought the Croft & Barrow Full Zip Sweater in Charcoal Heather. My Dad looks awesome in black but I thought a dark grey would look a little more fashionable/sophisticated :-) Also, I got this because it's more jacket than sweater really and he has a really heinous faux leather bomber thing that he always wears. Hopefully he'll trade it in for this!

Croft & Barrow Full-Zip Sweater

I got one thing for myself because I have just one purse... it's also from Kohl's. I got the Nine and Co. Zip To It Satchel in Black. I can't find a picture of it on the website anymore but there are pictures of it in pink and silver. I LOVE this purse. It is huge and I think pretty trendy without being over the top. However, my other purse has two compartments.... one on the side like for change or lipsticks and one in the middle where I put my receipts and stuff. This new purse only has the small zippered compartment in the side and the rest is just a big empty space. Hahah. I love that it has tons of space but I want to figure something out to get in there to be more organized. Any ideas? Perhaps a big wallet... not sure. Here's the link to the photo anyway.

Nine and Co. Zip To It Satchel

I got some of those faux Ugg boots for my Aunt in the beginning of December that she said was all she wanted for Christmas but I know she likes jewelry so I got a couple of bracelets I think she may like. I got one that's silver and blingin' and another that's pretty simple and gold.

Trifari Silver-Tone Stretch Bracelet

Daisy Fuentes Stretch Bracelet in Gold

Now all of this cost me $130, pretty spanky huh? I also got free shipping. Now, there's about one full day before Christmas and I've realized I am missing presents for like 4 people. Hahah. I will be running around like a chicken with its head cut off tonight getting last minute presents. Bottle of wine anyone? LOL

How have you all done with your Christmas shopping? Get anything awesome for yourselves? :-) Thanks for reading and HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Be safe

Mini Drugstore Haul

2010-12-15T09:28:00.002-05:00

Hi ladies! (and gents? haha) There was a Revlon buy one get one 50% off at my Walgreens and I'd been wanting to try Revlon's Colorstay foundation so I got it! I also got a couple of lipsticks to try. All four things ended up costing me $33, not too shabby.

Here are some photos of what I got but I haven't tried any of it out yet so I will put up another post with a review. I am also working on my Black Friday/Cyber Monday haul post. Hopefully none of my family members read my blog ;-)

Here is the entire haul photo (only 6 items but after not buying ANY cosmetics that's a big haul, lol)

I am not a huge lipstick wearer but to get 2 for the price of one was too tempting. I've also been working on whitening my teeth (boo for not being able to drink much coffee) so I want to highlight that with new lip colors! These two lipsticks are, as I said, Revlon... Fabulous Fig (009) is a dark wine/plum color and it is a matte finish. Kiss Me Coral is a really lovely bright, well, coral! Haha. It is part of Revlon's super lustrous lipstick and it is a creme finish.

Next I got the Revlon Colorstay foundation as I'd been seeing a lot of videos featuring it and giving it RAVE reviews. I've ALWAYS had the problem of looking white/washed out in photographs and everyone has said that this foundation works great with photos. I couldn't find any translucent Revlon colorstay powder so I got the Photoready powder to set the foundation.

Here are swatches of both the lipstick and the foundation (I took these with my iPhone). The color of the lipstick doesn't really look true to life, sorry about that. The Fig is not THAT dark.. neither is the coral. I swatched these on the inside of my arm which is a little bit more pale than my face but I am confident the foundation should work! Stinks that you can't swatch things in the drugstore :-(

I am so excited to add to my collection of Sonia Kashuk rushes. I have a crease brush (the bristles are black) and I think it is the regular eye shadow brush (with brown bristles.) These (and my other brushes) are SO SOFT! I cannot wait to use this little smudge brush as all my other brushes are too large to get a nice line of color along my bottom lash line... I always end up having to clean it up with a qtip.

If any on you have a Target in your area I highly recommend getting yourself some Sonia Kashuk brushes! I think these were between $6-$7 so they are very affordable.

An Autumn Stroll in My Neighborhood (picture heavy)

2010-10-18T09:26:00.001-04:00

Hey girls and guys!

Fall/Autumn and Winter are my absolute favorite seasons and I've been out and about a lot lately enjoying the weather and (ooo aaaaah) the changing leaves. I live in downtown Salem, MA so we get a lot of tourist action around these times and have something called "Haunted Happenings." Saturday I went up the street to the Salem Commons to walk around and then went further downtown around where the Pirate and Wax Museums are and, low and behold, there was a ferris wheel and other assorted carnival rides!

However, it was a little too crowded for my tastes so I didn't take too many pictures. I did get some apple crisp though, mmmm. Here are some of the photos I snapped while I was out :-) I hope you guys are all enjoying this time of year as well!

My babe hunched against the cold breeze!

Pretty corny, I know, but I love the changing leaves!

One of the yummy food stands that'd been set up in the Commons

The "Salem Witch Village" pumping smoke everywhere

The "carnival" that popped up overnight in an abandoned lot downtown

This lady was just standing in the middle of downtown and when people tipped her she'd blow them a kiss

This guy was super creepy, wouldn't talk!

Infinity by Conair straightener = AWESOME!

2010-10-13T11:40:00.000-04:00

The link to this awesome project is here: http://www.conair.com/infiniti-by-conair-i-series-ceramic-straightener-pink-p-824.html

My friend bought this straightener because we had a surprise night together and while we were getting ready my straightener broke. We both got it at Target (targeyyy). I bought mine after curling her hair and seeing her THREE days later with her hair STILL curly, still soft and bouncy, and still looking great if not BETTER than when I first curled her hair.

I cannot even tell you guys how LONG I have been trying and searching for products to curl my hair. It's a classic case of the grass is always greener because all my friends claim they'd kill to have my wavy, thick, long hair but I would and have done ANYTHING to get purposeful, flirty curls. Well, I've never gotten a perm but I've tried all kinds of other chemicals from mouses to pomades to sleeping in curlers. Nothing has ever worked!

I was skeptical that this straightener would work on my hair simply because it is so small and weighs like nothing. I was like "this is not powerful enough to curl my hair" or if it did curl my hair it wouldn't even last through the night. IT WORKED!!

It is day 4 and my hair is still lovely. The curl is not as pronounced but now they have that sexy toussled beach wave thing going on. I don't have pictures for you but I will definitely take pictures next time to show you guys real evidence that this totally works! Girls, if you have unmanageable THICK hair that's like a horse's tail... this will work for you!! The price tag at target said 27.95 but at the register (Oct. 9) it was $17! I was so excited.

I bought this straightener with my own money for those worrying about FTC guidelines and I'd buy it again!! There's also a green one that I saw. I know it's been forever since I posted but I had to share this.

Hope some of you will get this and be as happy with it as me.

MAC Haul; In the Groove and Misc.

2010-07-13T13:05:00.000-04:00

Here are my goodies! I bought one thing from the In The Groove collection that came out and then four things that are permanent items with MAC Cosmetics.

This is what I bought from the In The Groove collection and it's called Blue My Mind. I LOVE it! I did a quick swatch of the colors there on the right.. my first time swatching, heheh. This is dry and without a primer. I did a couple swipes so the pigmentation is nice. This is also my first mineralized eyeshadow. I'm glad I got it because I don't have many blue eyeshadows and I LOVE blues. Blues, Greens, and Purples are my new obsessions.

These are permanent eyeshadows from MAC Cosmetics - the brown is MULCH and the green is HUMID. Humid is a frost shadow and mulch is a velvet. I now own 9 MAC eyeshadows... the others I have include Trax, Mythology, Amber Lights, Saddle, Honey Lust, Nylon, and Retrospect. I have to say Trax is my favorite but I haven't experimented with humid or mulch yet. :-)

The other things I got from MAC are Fix+ and their Brush Cleaner. This will probably be my last makeup purchase for a while because ..well, if you read my blog you know I'm unemployed. Haha. I have to keep trying to save as much money as I can. Thanks so much for reading I hope you all enjoy my blog! Have a great day!

Major HAULAGE!!

2010-07-06T14:10:00.001-04:00

I know it has been SOOO long since I've updated this blog and I've promised to do hauls and makeup looks and things like this but I haven't. I lost the cable to my camera, in addition to always forgetting to take pictures... but I found it!! This will be a PICTURE LOADED post with a combo of things I've bought in the past few months. There's not too much because I can't be spending too much with the not having a job thing but I have bought some stuff.

These are some drugstore items that I have "hauled." I'd heard a lot of good things about the hard candy brand so I wanted to try a BUNCH of stuff... but had to reel myself in because I can't spend a lot so I decided to try some of their lip stuff.. I got their plexi gloss but there's no name on it, I think it was on the plastic packaging that I took off to open the lip gloss. I also got one of their lipsticks, number 194 in "crush." To be honest... I dislike the lipstick.. it goes on rather dry and there are shimmers in it that you can feel and seem rough to me. I do like the gloss though. It's not really sticky but it's thick and has a pleasant sort of cocoa smell to it. The dream mousse blush from Maybelline is... interesting. It is exactly like it's depicted, very moussey.. haha. It is very sheer and very shimmery. I got number 25 in "rose petal" and I do like it.. it gives a subtle flush paired with a flirty kind of sparkle.

I haven't experimented too much with false lashes but these really caught my eye. I haven't tried them on yet though, haha. These Sally Hansen HD colors, Cyber (purple) and Lite (yellow) are AWESOME! The yellow is actually a really awesome gold color and I'm just obsessed with purple right now :-)

This was a recent haul from the Walgreens up the street. I got 2 things from L'Oreal.. their true match powder in W5 "sand beige." I decided to get a new foundation because I've been in the sun a lot recently and have gotten too dark for my other foundations... I chose a powder because I get really sweaty in the heat and maybe a powder would be best. I saw the L'Oreal studio secrets anti-redness corrector in a video of Dulcecandy's and had to get it because I have annoying redness in my cheeks that often shows through under my foundation. It totally works! It's amazing!! The Maybelline pure makeup was on sale for like $3 so I grabbed one in medium beige. I got two of the new Wet'n'Wild lipsticks in 906D and 901B. I was scared the 906D would either be too dark or would blend in with my lips but on my lips it is this amazing red that I LOVE! The pink is just that... totally pink but if you just do one coat it is wearable and flattering. I had to try the Mayelline Lash Stiletto too just from hearing a bunch about it via blogs... I DO like it. It lengthens my lashes a lot but does not add any thickness. I don't mind this though because my lashes are rather thick just short.. so I like the length. From sccastaneda's videos I wanted the hard candy walk the line liquid eyeliner so I got this in asphalt and it is awesome! I am new with liquid eyeliner but this works like a charm! It is easy to control and very black. Woo! The clear polish which I wanted to use as a top coat kind of stinks.. it doesn't add any extra wear for my polish...

I got these loose pigments and lip gloss from the HauteLook sale... the lipgloss is in deep and I LOVE it.. it's a pretty sheer red. The loose pigments are yeyo (white), gunmetal (grey), and rockstar (purple). I tried to do a look with rockstar but I haven't figured out how to rock these yet...

On to some clothes I got.. Forever 21.. I got these because they kept having the $20 and below sale so these were all like under $15 actually which is awesome.

I got three v-neck t shirts with some rouching along the bust. I got these in large and they fit great. I got black, white, and orange.. trying to add some color to my wardrobe, hehe. I also got two pairs of their fab finds leggings, a pair of black and a pair of white. I also got a cardigan... a long sleeved open cardigan in grey and navy, I LOVE IT... I wore it to the fireworks in my town and it was the perfect summer night coverup, not heavy or anything.

I also got these accessories because I only have 1 gold piece ...I love hearts so I went a little hearts crazy. I wore the thin hearts the other day and they irritated my ears so I didn't wear them long.. maybe I'll give them another shot. The two smaller necklaces are so short... I was very disappointed, they barely reach my collar bone.

Well ladies (and gents if there are any) that's it for this post. I apologize for how wishy washy I am with the blog. I DO want to devote more time to this.... I've been doing the Insanity workout (I hate/love you Shaun T!) and.. well, I haven't lost any weight aside from like 2 lbs but my endurance is up (I run 3 miles easy peasy) and my muscle tone has improved visibly. I'm nearly to the end now but I think I will continue with it over again when the three months are up. I hope you all have been wonderful... that you had a great Independence Day, and the long weekend that comes with it :-)

I will post up some looks I've done soon. I still have to figure out a better way to take pictures of them because you often can't see too well the colors I use. :-)

End of May

2010-05-26T10:55:00.000-04:00

Oh boy ladies (and gents?) I am now 25-years-old, ew. I turned 25 on May 18 and had a real fun time out to dinner with my bf and my Aunt and her bf. Then my bf took me out to dinner again... and I went out for a fun night with several of my friends.

All in all it was a great birthday. I know I posted that I would have pictures of my friend's photoshoot as I did her makeup but she hasn't given them to me yet, lol. Booo. I did a rather dramatic silvery smoky eye on her so it could go with several different outfits without having to change the makeup. We may be doing another photoshoot tomorrow (Thursday) but we'll see. It has been really hot here the past couple of days and I went out yesterday to get some color (might as well take advantage of not having a job huh!?) and I got burned!!

It hurts, lol, and makes the heat even worse but oh well. I'm glad I got some color because I've been soooo white lately. Yesterday was also day 1 of the Insanity workout for me. I took some pictures so that I can better see the transition my body makes (hopefully) during the 60 days. I also went to the gym with my friend earlier in the day so I was beat. I went to bed at like 9:30pm, haha. I'm super excited to be doing this workout and am only a little sore as I've been running pretty regularly and going to the gym with my friend Nicole. Oh! I am going swimming today for the first time in like... years! I'm really excited, lol. Swimming is such great exercise without a ton of impact on your joints and my knees tend to start hurting me (thanks softball!).

I hope everyone is doing well and I will work on my friend more to get some shots and maaaaaybe post my before pictures for the Insanity workout. :-) Thanks so much for reading!

Another Update

2010-05-11T13:57:00.000-04:00

Hi Ladies,

I just wanted to jot out a quick post to update you guys on what's going on in my life. I did not get the job I was talking about last time but, as they do, they told me they'd keep my resume, yadda yadda. I'm really trying hard not to go the retail route because I want something that can become a career and something that won't make me want to shoot myself everyday, haha.

I am still cooking but, alas, tried to take photos of my last meal only to discover my battery was dead. I am all charged up now (as is my flip cam!) and I am definitely going to start taking pictures and the like to show you guys.

I got my hair done by my friend Jaymi Griffin; she's all trained and such. It is now a deep auburn and is cut to brush my shoulders in the front while being a bit shorter in the back and I kept my side-swept bangs. I am excited to show you guys, been looking through my photos for good before hair pictures but suffice to say my hair was multi-colored (had old caramel highlights and whatnot) and super long.

Tonight and tomorrow night I am helping out a friend who is taking photos for a biker calendar that one of her friends is making - I will be doing her makeup (and maybe hair). I'm super excited! I've only ever done someone else's makeup like... once, hahha, but I am most assuredly passionate and excited to maybe start some kind of "business" with doing peoples' makeup. I'm hopeless with my own hair but we'll see what comes out :-)

I want to thank all of you for following and hope you guys are having a great start to the summer!

Another Random Update

2010-04-30T16:42:00.000-04:00

Hey ladies (and gents?)

I know it's been another long while since my last post. I'm still unemployed and have been trucking my butt around passing out my resume and filling out applications rather than simply sticking with online applications through CareerBuilder, Craigslist, and JobQuest.

I was actually called on Thursday (April 29) to attend a "pre-screening" for an administrative assistant position I'd applied for around the end of January. Took them long enough eh?? I'm super excited though. I have also given my resume to two of my friends who have openings where they work. AND I JUST got a call from Nordstroms in Peabody about a position (hoping I won't take that) but this has definitely been a HUGE turn around in the job search department and I could not be happier. Went three months without so much as a rejection e-mail and now I could have 4 jobs, haha.

My last post, or posts? were cooking related and I have still been trying out some recipes from online and whatnot but haven't really kept track. I did a round steak recipe with onions that came out alright, a little dry. I also had a potluck with my girlfriends this past sunday that was a huuuge hit! I took some video with my flipcam so if anyone is interested I may post that up on my youtube channel.

I've also been experimenting with my makeup and pondering posting up some pictures or a video related to makeup. Trying to get my buds to let me work on them, haha. They aren't really interested on being on youtube.

I know I've posted on here complaining about my lack of lady friends as well and there's been a turn around there as well. I think depression over my lack of a job drove me to go out and drink a bunch whereas I used to not go out much... and I met several lovely ladies at the bars and we've hit it off (one of them is actually a licensed beautician!) So, that's another good change in my life.

My boyfriend and I had a fight, nothing really spectacular, but for me the fight sort of clicked something in my head (or heart?) that's allowed me to feel really content in my relationship. It's an odd thing to realize after being in this relationship for nearly 3 years. I was carrying around a lot of baggage from my last relationship and, though I realized it, I couldn't help but feel certain things.... however, after the latest fight I think I was finally able to let go of that baggage and realize... hey! This bf is NOT anything like the last one... I'm taking our life together one step at a time and not letting little things bug me. I am really happy about it :-)

I hope all you lovely ladies (and gents? hahha) are doing great. I will hopefully be back around on this semi-reliably. Thanks for sticking with me and enjoying my blog! (got another follower since I was here last I believe!)

Oh, I went and saw Gogol Bordello again on Wednesday with Brandon (he bought me the tickets for Valentine's Day) and it was spectacular. I wish I had realized before we headed out that I would be standing around for four hours. I wore these high boots (thinking only about my short height) and my feet were killing me. I wish now that I had tied my hair back and wore some comfy sneakers so that I could've joined in on the intense moshing (I wore my hair down and had dangly earrings on which I was afraid would get pulled out!)

Alright, that's all I can think to update you all on. Things in the world of LaDonna are great, despite still being jobless after three months. For those of you that are also on the unemployed train... don't get down on yourself, your stop is coming!! (heheh)

Joined Formspring.me

2010-04-30T12:31:00.002-04:00

Ask me anything http://formspring.me/LaDonnaF

Feel free to post any questions or comments you have for me/about me/anything either on the blog or on my formspring :-)

Poached Eggs!

2010-03-30T12:15:00.001-04:00

Oh my goodness! I poached eggs yesterday to make eggs benedict for my bf and I for dinner (in the way of needing groceries but he's been at night school and I've been too tired in the mornings to drive him to work so I can have the car to use during the day, heh).

I've never poached an egg before or attempted eggs benedict, didn't really even have the stuff for it but hey, you make do right?

We had some powdered hollandaise sauce stuff so I didn't have to worry about attempting to make that from scratch.

I used a video from Food Wishes to learn about poaching eggs and then, bam, took the plunge. My eggs weren't as fresh as they probably should have been but they worked! I brought my water up to a simmer and added some white vinegar before dropping the eggs in. Before hand I cracked the eggs into a little bowl so I could make sure the yolk didn't break. This was so awesome!!! It worked. The hollandaise from the packet was a little salty and came out thicker than I wanted but all in all it was really great. Also, I used ham instead of Canadian bacon (but isn't ham sort of like Canadian bacon?) I also just toasted up some bread in the frying pan versus using an english muffin or bagel because we didn't have either... AND our toaster oven AND toaster broke! How funny is that? Haha.

I should have taken some photos or something but I wasn't really thinking too much about blogging, hehe. So, that was my new meal. I've been putting some recipes together that I want to try but still haven't been able to get to the grocery store, booo, hopefully tomorrow I will be picking up some groceries and then more cooking will begin!!

Anyone have ideas/requests for me to try? I will try to get photos up next time.

Update

2010-03-25T10:35:00.000-04:00

Ugh. I haven't been writing lately because I lost my job. At first I was excited to blog because now I'd really have time to devote to it and I'd make it super awesome, however, every time I sat down to start to write it all sounded boo-hooey and I just didn't want to burden you all with that (woo, 18 followers!). Anyways, I was laid off in January and it's now been almost 2 months and I haven't even been able to get an interview. Stiiinks! Mostly I've been applying for office work and the like but everyone that HAS replied has said I just don't have the experience, boo. I know I'm not the only one that's going through this so I'm not going to cry about it anymore but it has been getting me down. So ridiculous to discover that, while you were told having a college degree will get you a great job above a lot of others, I have no qualifications for like... any jobs besides teaching little kids or something. Heh. Thanks UNH.

In light of my unemployment I have not been buying... well anything let alone clothes or makeup. I also haven't really been reading blogs but I want to get back into it. Starting to go crazy watching daytime television.

I have been experimenting with cooking though. Anyone that reads me interested in that? I've made popovers, corn muffins, and stuffed chicken. I'm not that great yet, hehe. anyway, just wanted to touch base and let you all know I will hopefully be back but there may be a new gear for my blog - food!

formspring.me

2010-03-25T10:25:00.001-04:00

Ask me anything http://formspring.me/LaDonnaF

2010 update :-(

2010-02-24T11:39:00.000-05:00

Wow - an update is way overdue. So, I was laid off from my job so I've been very MIA from blogger, devoting my time to looking for a job. It has been a pretty fruitless search so far. I was laid off January 26, 2010 and it's now February 24, 2010. Ugh. I just hooked up with a staffing agency though for part-time/temporary work so I am hoping I can at least get something part time while I search for that "right" full-time job.

It's depressing to realize there's very little you are qualified to do despite having gone to college, lol. I'm starting to go rather stir crazy in the house though so I may be getting back onto here... possibly finally starting some videos on youtube. The lighting in my house is pretty horrible but I DID get a flip cam for Christmas so I could take that out into the kitchen or something. Hehe.

Well I hope all of you lovely ladies are doing well!

Giveaway entry!!

2010-01-20T08:47:00.000-05:00

The adorable Holly at DollyMix184 writes is having a giveaway! It's her first and looks like great prizes. How cool to get some UK stuff eh?

She's super stylish, lovely, and funny so you should follow her blog regardless... and enter her giveaway!

The giveaway is open to everyone, internationally, in the UK, and in Ireland you just have to post a comment on her blog post saying "enter me" and you can also get additional entries for linking to her giveaway in your own blog and/or through Twitter.

Good luck everyone!!

New Year! An Award

2010-01-04T09:07:00.000-05:00

Happy 2010! Hope everyone's NYE was safe and fun... or at least relaxing :-)

I just discovered I was given a blogger award by the lovely Cake Girl! However, there are RULES for this award, hehe. Here they are (in no particular order!) and my bloggers I'm passing it on to as well!

These are the rules to this blog award...

"Post 10 things that make you happy, try to do at least one of them today, link back to the person who awarded you and pass along for up to ten people."

1) Sleeping!

2) Hardcore workout session where I feel like I might pass out but 10 minutes later I'm so energized and feeling great about myself and life, haha.

3) Cooking and eating dinner with by bf, like a little family.

4) Hanging out with my best girlfriends, doesn't matter what we do, they're great.

5) Putting together a fun outfit/makeup look that looks great

6)Watching a great movie

7) Reading an awesome book

8) Date night with the bf

9) Really great smells be it from candles, incense, or perfume

10) Family

Passing it on to:

Stephanie of Aquahearts Makeup Obsession - Really fun blog and girl

Rosamond of Beari's Beauties - Doesn't post much but those she does are great!

Tennille of Cupcakes and Rainbow Dust - Such a cute, fun girl! Follow her blog

Denysia of Hello Denysia - Really lovely girl! Fashion and beauty posts!

Lollipop26 of lollipop26writes.com - One of my favorite youtube "gurus"

Ash of Memoirs from My Kitchen - Fun lady with some great recipes!

Ok, it says UP TO ten, LOL! I don't have too much time today to blog but I was SO surprised about the award I had to post. Hehe. Thanks Cake Girl!!

There will be some more blog posts upcoming - I think I will do a little Christmas present post and I might be getting an apartment! I'm going to look at it tonight, the bf has said he will go with me but has not committed to moving with me, lol. We shall see. WISH ME LUCK!

What I'm Loving :-)

2009-12-28T13:19:00.000-05:00

I've seen a lot of these posts, a.k.a. ups and downs, most used, etc. so I decided I'd do something along the same lines.

End of 2009 loves

1. Leggings

2. Huge scarves

3. Perfume!

4. Chunky jewelry

5. Green eyeshadow

6. Credit cards (finally got one!)

7. Nail art (been painting my nails like crazy!)

8. Boots

9. Fuzzy slipper socks (omg so warm when lounging)

10. Blazing infernos in my fireplace

What were your most loved items of 2009?

PRESSIES!? What did everyone get for Christmas??

I got a flip hd camera from my boyfriend, Brandon. I got some monies from my Dad and my Grandfather... a gift card to the movies from my Aunt, a cute robe, and a cute betty boop shirt. My friend Jess got me a few movies I'd asked for... my friend Cliff got me a sephora gift card... Brandon's grammy gave me this lovely bracelet and his mom got me a lovely pink sweater (the bracelet has a pink heart stone on it that totally matches, hah). Was a good Christmas because all my folks liked their pressies. I'm giving Brandon half of the money for a playstation 3 and I got him some winter gloves (he doesn't have any but always tries to clear off the car with his bare hands). Course, it hasn't snowed since Christmas so they're not getting used and will probably be lost. Lol.

Anyone already starting out on their New Years Resolutions?

I have! I pigged out Saturday and then started my "diet" on Sunday (we ordered from a pizza place and I got a salad with grilled chicken!). Also, I watched the film "Food Inc." (anyone see it? Sick) and have decided that I am going to try, as much as I can, to purchase more locally grown goods a.k.a healthier food (it can be expensive!) I discovered that there is a farmers' market in Salem! Of course it is between July and October so I missed it. I WILL be sure to visit in July though.

I've been doing well with the gym too, however, sort of fighting with by boyfriend about it now. He wants to go back to the gym to prepare for the firefighter exam, the physical part, but doesn't want to go after picking me up from work because it is too much back and forth driving. In all fairness there IS a train that can take me from home to work and back, however, it is WINTER! I told him it wasn't fair to spring that on me now in the freezing cold. Then tried to talk to him about a schedule, like I take the train two days, he picks me up two days and goes to the gym after. I even said he could go to the gym after work and THEN pick me up and that when the weather gets better I will definitely take the train. He of course didn't want to talk about it and told me to forget it so... whatever, we'll see. I always try to get him to run with me or go to the gym on the weekend but his excuse is "there's no point in going for two days a week." His way or the highway I guess. I wish my apartment was more sturdy so I could exercise in there without being paranoid I'll fall through the floor and kill myself! LOL! I love winter but I'm yearning for warmer weather these days so that I can really exercise outdoors. I want to get into biking and rollar blading!

I did a little filming with my flip cam but it was charging most of Christmas day... so I got some present opening from Brandon's family and some day after cleanup of my family... if interested the video is here Christmas 2009!

That's all! Hope your holidays were great ladies (and any gents). Still trying to figure out what to do with my hair and for New Years

Winter Review - Aveeno

2009-12-22T14:39:00.000-05:00

Aveeno active naturals essential moisture lip conditioner with spf 15 - Can I just say... I hate this chapstick. My lips have been absolutely horrible this winter and I feel like everytime I put this on it gets worse! This says that it has natural oatmeal, jojoba oil, and shea butter and is supposed to "temporarily" protect and help relieve chapped or cracked lips due to dryness as well as helps prevent sunburn. I don't think there's a real risk of sunburn in the winter but this has not worked at all for any of the other things it says it should be used for. I got this for free at the Shecky's Girls Night Out in Boston on August 15, 2009 but hadn't really used it much until now. Pretty plainly, it stinks. Also, it has a weird taste/smell and a really oily feel to it.

Overall: 0 out of 5
Packaging: 5 out of 5
Price: $3.69 on drugstore.com
Size/Weight: 4.2g (0.15 oz)
Would you buy this again? I didn't buy it to begin with but if I saw it in the drugstore, no, I wouldn't buy it nor will I recommend it.

Fantabulous Weekend!

2009-12-21T11:37:00.001-05:00

Hello bloggariffic beauties!

I hope everyone is having a great winter/holiday season! I just wanted to update on my weekend because it was glorious!

I'm usually a total luggabed on the weekends and am really one to stick to home during the winter but I was out almost all of this weekend!

I went on a crazy mad shopping spree on Friday night after work with the boy to get all of my last minute gifts for fam and friends and ended up getting a couple of things for myself at Sephora. I went there to try and get their $24 palette that had like 30 shadows, 4 lip glosses, and a blusher and bronzer but they were OUT of ALL the Sephora brand palettes. I ended up packaging my friend a BUNCH of the Nyx trio eyeshadow things I got during one of their sales because I've only used like one of those since I got it.

What I got at Sephora was:

Benefit Cosmetic's My Place of Yours Gina perfume $36- Holy HANNAH! I LOVE this perfume! This scent is sort of spicy and totally sexy. I've worn it for two days now and it is VERY long lasting! On Saturday I went to two parties and sprayed this on about 7pm, went to my first shindig about 8:30pm and then the secont about 10:20 or so and at BOTH parties people commented on how good I smelled. When I got up Sunday morning I could STILL smell the perfume and it was so yummy and almost made me not take a shower again, lol.

I also got Too Faced's French & Fabulous Palette $28.50. I did a look with it on Sunday, just really fooling around, as I've never used anything from Too Faced before. The shadows were a little powdery and not as much payoff as I had expected but still very nice! I LOVE the pale beigy/peachy color, it's a perfect highlight for my skintone or an allover the lid color for a simple everyday neutral look. The look I did was a simple neutral look with the top right color as highlight, the top right as all over lid color, and a combination of the second row left color and the black shimmer color. I have not used the bronzer or highlighter yet but I'll let you know what I think when I do.

I also got two Sephora brand professional brushes; the small synthetic eyeshadow brush #26 for $13 and the blending brush #29 for $15 - now, the only other brushes I have are some eyeslipsface ones as well as a couple bare escentuals ones I got with a get started kit but these sephora ones are GREAT! They are WICKED soft and I've noticed an IMMEDIATE difference in the quality of my looks with them. It is easier to blend, my shadow application is now more precise, and I get less fall out! I think I will be buying more of these rather than continuing to lemm after MAC brushes. :-)

That's all I got. Happy Holidays! So stoked it's a three-day work week for me!

OMG! I also saw the movie Avatar last night (Sunday night) at the IMAX and the entire thing was in 3D. It was AMAZING! I want to go again! The only bad thing I can say about this is that the 3D kind of hurt my eyes for a bit and sitting in the same chair for like 3hrs was a little rough, particularly due to layering for the cold as it got a bit hot. So, if you do decide to go see this... don't dress too warm, or do layers you can really take off in a confined space, lol. I could go on and on about how much I loved this but I won't (don't want to seem TOO dorky, haha)

Last Minute Shopping!

2009-12-18T13:16:00.000-05:00

Aghhh! So, I have about three people left on my list for xmas shopping and am going to the mall today after work -shaking knees-

My list includes: my little brother (thinking gamestop/best buy gift card), my dad (no idea!), my bf's mom, my bf's dad, my bf's brother (again, gamestop/best buy gift card), my friend Nicole (her birthday was on wednesday as well!), my friend Cole (no idea!), and my friend Cliff (Harrison's gift card).

Last year I got my bf's mother a gift set from bath and body works but I have no clue whether or not she used it/liked it... he got her a tea set with some tea and may do that again this year. Bah!

I was flippin gout because money's tight and i don't want to get cheap gifts but I just realized I get another paycheck right before my bills are due so it's almost like I got free money! Hehe. I'm going to try try try not to spend a lot and to save most of it because I can never save anything.

Anyone else doing some last minute shopping? Do you all have at least an idea of what you're getting? Does anyone think gift cards are horrible? I feel kind of bad sometimes getting them but then I convince myself they're the best because the card giver doesn't have to stress and the card receiver can get exactly what they want!

Oh, I'm DEFINATELY getting myself something when I go out today... maybe a perfume and a couple bras. Omg. I hate my bras. Any suggestions where to go for bras? Most of my friends say Vic Sec's is not really worth it because the intimates get destroyed so quickly.

Bored Bored!

2009-12-14T14:33:00.000-05:00

I've decided that I need a new hairstyle. Right before it became HUGE to have the sideswept bangs I did that and I also put red highlights in my hair which I was a big fan of. However, I'm lazy. Most of the time I have my bangs swept back into a ponytail and when I go out it takes me years to get them to sweep to the side! Shouldn't they, just by their name, do that already? I know I know... I'm supposed to "train them" which involves wearing them swept to the side often (either by blow drying or clipping them there, etc) but I'm so lazy in the morning!

Anyways, that was about 5 months ago and since then I have not even CUT my hair. (hides from criticism). When I died my hair (JUST highlights mind you) it took 2 bottles of product and cost me about $200. So, although I want to die by hair again (it's faded to plain jane brown again) I do not have and do not want to spend that much money.

Do any of you have recommendations for an affordable brand of dye that is salon-esque? I want to go red again and am waffling between doing thick blocks of highlight or doing like an under layer of hair is all red or the over layer of hair is all red thing (in my research I've seen it described as 'scene' hair). What do you all think?

Also, should I keep the sideswept bangs (and commit to actually making them sweep to the side and to wear them this way as often as phsycially possible) or should I hack them off and get all over fringe bangs?

I admit to having a large forehead and believe this will help be cammoflauge the gigantic-ness and give me the feminine feel of bangs without a lot of hassle :-)

Totally off the subject - how are peoples' holiday shopping going? I have about three people left on my list and they're all getting gift cards! Heh. Do people think gift cards are horrible or what? Personally, I like them because it shows thoughtfullness as well as practicality. With a gift card I know you love me and I can get exactly what I want! Win win.

Folks -- This is my IDEAL hair. I know I can't get it exactly like this though because my hair is THICK as a horse's mane. I also don't think I'd get the bangs SO long as to be hanging over my eyes, but it looks super cute and cool in the picture :-)

Here is the "scene hair" I mentioned above - however, I want the peekaboo color here rather than the rockin' hair cut that's rather mullet-ish. I also would not be sporting such a vibrant color (NOT saying at all that this is ugly or bad or anything, just not me).

Random Post

2009-12-01T09:15:00.000-05:00

I stole this from Supergirl43837

Name: LaDonna
Height: 5'1"
Weight: 147lbs (booo weight loss isn't going well!)
Age: 25
Tomboy or Girly girl: In between?
Describe your hair: Long and rather wavy
Describe your personal style: I like being comfy and casual, jeans are an absolute staple in my wardrobe, as are cute sweatshirts. I mostly always wear chucks, I like skinny jeans but am hung up on thinking my thighs are too fat - I love long complicated necklaces, big rings, and scrunchies!

What beauty secret did your mother pass on to you? SIT UP STRAIGHT!!! IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE. (totally!)
Personal beauty philosophy: Do what makes you happy!

Favorite lipgloss: Not a big gloss person but I have a few sephora brand ones I wear
How long does it take you to get ready in the morning? Most of the time I don't "get ready" but when I do about 20 minutes (gotta wake up early!)
Favorite piece of clothing in your closet: Leggings

Do you spend a lot of money on your hair? When I get my hair dyed I have to because there's so much of it (+$150) but I don't dye it often and am really lazy on getting it cut! Bad
What about beauty products in general? Sometimes I splurge but I've never spent more than $100
Would you ever have plastic surgery? Does lazer hair removal count? I would DEFINITELY get that, f* shaving!
Biggest fashion no no: Wearing a top that's too small/too tight for you with low rise jeans, ick.
What is the trend you dislike the most? Fringe - I HATE IT!
Ever been to a fashion show? Nope
Favorite shampoo: Head and Shoulders
Favorite body wash: Korres
What is your most important beauty product: Moisturizer, does that count?
Would you ever go out in public without makeup? I do it all the time
What size jeans do you wear? 9
Do you like metro sexual boys? I like to look at them but that's about it, hehe.
What kind of toothpaste do you use? Crest
Physical or intellectual beauty? Why not both? Intellectual (I've been in a relationship where I liked the guy's mind more than his face/body)
Favorite makeup line: Dunno, I have several different brands I use interchangeably - I am LEMMING TONS of Mac and Urban Decay though.
Favorite skincare line: I don't really follow skincare lines - I have different products from every one but I can't do without my Clinique dramatically different moisturizer, best thing
Do you look up to anyone in the fashion industry? I don't really know anyone in the fashion industry
Ever want to be a makeup artist? Yeah
Is there anything you absolutely CANT wear? I feel like I got too much junk in the trunk for skinny jeans!
Best quick fix: TAPE OR SUPER GLUE!! J/K ACCESSORIES :] (haha! Agreed!)
Who has great style? Kourtney Kardashian, Reese Witherspoon, etc.
Favorite perfume: Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy!

Any last words?: Feel free to steal this and post it up yourselves!

Thanksgiving - Review

2009-11-30T13:03:00.000-05:00

Here is my review of Rimmel London's Stay Matte foundation in the color sand (300) - I've been using this foundation pretty much since the weather got a bit colder and my powder foundation just wasn't cutting it for keeping me moisturized. I'm not a fan of looking "dewy" like many others because I feel like I just look oily so the 'matte' portion of this product's title really grabbed me. I read good reviews on MUA so I decided to pick this up (I also purchased the pressed powder).

First: This is a very THICK and full coverage foundation so it took a bit for me to get used to the feel of it on my skin. I actually add some of my moisturizer to this just to thin out the consistency but other than that I LOVE it. It really does make my skin look flawless and minimizes pores like it says. However, I don't know about this "clarifying" claim. My skin hasn't cleared up. It states that it lasts for 12 hours but I only wear it for about 8 because I go to the gym after work and before I get my sweat on I wash it off. You definitely will need some good makeup wipes with this as I said it is a thick formula and seems pretty water resistant.

I didn't really have any cons with this but, as I mentioned, for anyone who likes that infamous "dewy" look you probably would steer clear of this foundation or invest in a good highlighter/illuminator to put on top.

Thanksgiving just passed! What did everyone do for theirs? I actually got to have TWO Thanksgivings this year - one at my boyfriend's house and then one at mine. Also, I visited my Dad and his side of the family for the first time and it was great. One of my cousins just had a baby boy (2 months old) and I got to cuddle him the whole time. I didn't bring my camera though, UGH! I told my cousin I better get a call though if they ever want to go out. They just live in Lynn so not a huge haul. I told him I'd babysit for free! Haha.

Did anyone go all out for the Black Friday? I got exhausted watching all the commercials for 3am-4am deals and, mostly due to being sick and poor, did not get up at that ungodly hour to shop. I did hit the mall around 10am though but I couldn't find anything I was looking for - it was utter chaos in all the stores I went to with stuff just thrown around. I felt bad for the employees, they all looked so frustrated. Haha. So glad I'm not in retail anymore!

I actually just did a big shop online today for "cyber monday" and knocked out all but 3 on my list, woo! I'll probably pick up a few more things for people before Christmas is here but I'm relieved I got something for almost everyone already! I did all my shopping at Kohl's - They have a 15% off for all orders like $50 and under with free shipping using CYBER15 and then 20% off orders of $100 or more with free shipping using CYBER20, ended up with $30 off my order!

Well, that's all folks! I hope you all had a great holiday and are doing well :-) Thanks for stopping by!

Outfit of the Day :-)

2009-11-19T11:51:00.000-05:00

I don't have any pictures (was running late this morning) but here's my outfit of the day today!

Outift of the Day by LaDonnaF featuring Old Navy

Items in this set:
Old Navy dress, $25
Old Navy sweater, $37
Old Navy boots, $30
Old Navy tights, $9.50

These are three of the things I got in my Old Navy shopping spree (an early xmas gift from my Aunt). I got another pair of the boots in khaki, a black pair of the tights, and two sweatshirts in grey and white.

WARNING for any interested in these cable knit tights - get a size above what you'd normally get. The top part of the tights (crotch and bum area) has this odd stitching that gets super tight. I wish I'd gotten a bigger size because it's a litle uncomfortable at the top, particularly when I sit. I regret being too excited about the package that I ripped into everything and then after I'd gotten the grey pair on was like NOOOOO. Hahah.

The dress is so great! I NEVER wear dresses and this is the first probably since 2 years ago when my Aunt on my dad's side got married, haha. I NEVER wear dresses (granted it's with thick tights but whatever!) and I don't feel akward or gross at all. I think this is one of those "shirt" dresses so it is really rather boxy and loose but it has a really cute belt that sits high up on the waist so it cuts a cute figure.

Hope everyone's having a good week and are looking forward to Thanksgiving. Can't wait for the turkey coma ;-)

RANT against Forever21 sizes

2009-11-16T13:33:00.000-05:00

SO TICKED OFF!!!!

The blazer I was so excited about that I posted about purchasing online from Forever 21 came and IT DOESN'T FIT ME!!! I got it in a large because I know their stuff runs a bit small (I'm usually roomy in a medium) and this thing wouldn't even button!! I am by no means fat, I know this despite the fact that I often call myself fat, but I am busty. I have a bigger chest but that wasn't even the REAL problem with this thing (it was a tad tight around the chest). I am petite so a lot of shirts and such can be longer on me - this blazer didn't even reach my waist!!! It looked like I'd hacked off half of the damn thing as it came to just below my bust where my ribcage starts, way too high above the waist to even look like it's supposed to be a cropped style.

It was like I bought something from the children's section - WTF!?! Am I wrong in the knowledge that Forever 21 is for WOMEN and young adults??? I'm so pissed. It is such a sucky feeling to buy something in a size up and then have it not fit you. I feel fat and gross and depressed because I had SO many outfits planned with that blazer, lol.

Ok, end rant I guess. The other shirts I got fit. I guess I will have to start hunting for another blazer now. Anyone have any suggestions? I want something between a boyfriend blazer and something more feminine.

Aside from this everything's peachy in my life, lol. I bought some other stuff from Old Navy so waiting for that to get in - some warm tights, a couple sweatshirts, a dress, and a couple pairs of boots (similar to the pair I bought at AMIclubwear). I'm super bummed about the blazer though. This is after I'd just rediscovered a shruggy shawl thing I'd bought from Forever21 that I didn't think fit either but I realized just should be worn with t-shirts :-) One item back in the wardrobe and one out I guess. I can probably give the blazer to my Aunt - She's slimmer than me and it might look right on her taller frame, who knows. I guess one shouldn't buy stuff like blazers and jackets online if you don't really know the shop's sizing in that area.

How's everyone's November going? Struggling with my Lia Sophia direct selling business... no one is booking shows and no one is interested in ordering. Boo. I've set up an online shopping event through my personal web site with them throughout november and into december so I'm hoping I'll get some bites on that.

Urban Decay - Friends & Family Sale 30% off entire order

2009-11-09T14:13:00.000-05:00

Urban Decay Cosmetics is having their Friends and Family sale!! The sale starts today (November 9) and goes until November 20 (that's a friday).

Urban Decay has some really awesome stuff! Their new (sort of) Ink for Eyes has been in tons of magazines lately and I really, personally, want to try their complexion primers. I exclusively use their eyeshadow primer so I'll probably snag some more of that as well. I also want a few of their ink for eyes and the show pony shadow box. What I really, really want is the Book of Shadows version 1. BAH! hehe.

What do you guys want???

Woo!

2009-11-09T09:44:00.002-05:00

Hi guys. Yet again it's been WAY TOO LONG since I posted. I think last time I was talking about possibly joining up with Lia Sophia. Well, I did. I just got my first paycheck and I'm stoked about it. My first month went pretty quick and now this second month is going sooo slow and I can't find anyone who wants to throw a Lia party, lol. Wish me luck!

I stopped going to the gym for a little bit and wasn't eating so great so I'm back at 150lbs, ugh. It's so funny though because no one believes I'm that heavy so I guess I hold it well (it's luckily all in my bum I think, haha!) However, I think I've retained the muscle I built up while I was going everyday. I've been back to going everyday for about 2 weeks not (even running saturday mornings!). I'm feeling good about myself again so I'm hoping I won't take another hiatus.

I was on a no-spend for a while despite dying for some fall trendy clothing items. However, last Friday I splurged a bit and got some boots from AMIclubwear and a couple of shirts from Forever21. I got an e-mail Saturday saying they were shipped so I'm hoping I get them today or tomorrow, wee! Oh, I also got a credit card. It's my first one (I'm 24, haha) and those were my first purchases with it. I'm a little nervous but I only spent what I could repay so I should be fine.

Boots from AMIclubwear (12.99):

Shirts from Forever21:

Blazer from Forever21:

I can't wait to get my stuff. I'm hoping the blazer, because it is rather fitted looking, won't be boxy on me. I got another blazer once but it wasn't fitted or styled really at all and it looks horrible.

I went out for Halloween (I live in Salem, haha) as Sally from A Nightmare Before Christmas but didn't take any pictures or anything. It was pretty fun. Started the night out with the bf (he decided to be Joe Dirt and I gave him some chops and he wore a blonde wig) and his friends... then I met up with my friend Jess and her bf and some of his friends. We all ended up splitting up but it worked out for the best I think.

Hmm, trying to think of anything else that's happened since I posted last but, aside from Lia stuff, nothing's new. Haha. I saw Paranormal Activity this weekend, wasn't that great. My bf bought the xbox 360 game Dragon Age and we've been playing that. Lots of fun! We're getting the new Call of Duty tonight and he's super excited, haha. Boys and their video games.

Well, that's all I can think of for now. I'll try to get back to posting regularly again. Trying also to get my friends to let me experiment on them with makeup, LOL! If/when I do I'll put pictures up.

Update - OMG

2009-10-06T10:43:00.000-04:00

It's been almost a month since I posted last!

I am really, really, REALLY sorry about that. My life has been a little hectic lately. I am now a Lia Sophia "advisor" so I've been spending the majority of my free time trying to hook up with old friends and convince them to throw parties, haha.
I've also been trying to focus more on myself and finding fun things to do that don't cost a lot of money (I'm learning how to sew!) so I've been going out more than usual and also just having friends over to watch television, play Wii, stuff like that. OH! And I'm going back to the gym, about two weeks now. I haven't lost any weight yet but, like before, I feel like my muscle definition is getting better. I'm trying to run more on the weekends (before I was only working out during the week) so hopefully I'll be dropping weight soon.

I am SOOOOO super excited that Fall is here. Fall and Winter are my favorite seasons! I've been keeping up with the Fall Fashions through other blogs like Anna from Style4Me
and Dulce from Dulce Candy

I've really been trying not to spend any money so there haven't been any new buys (besides yarn and sewing needles and my Lia Sophia kit) so my wishlist I posted September 10 is still laaarge, haha. I hope that I can make money with this new thing otherwise I'll probably never get my wishlist! Oh nooo. Hahah.

I went to the movies recently and saw "Zombieland" it was really funny! I also so "Adventureland" but I didn't really like it. The Kristen Stewart girl kind of annoys me.

What have you all been doing lately? Anyone else trying to save money? Anyone interested in some Lia Sophia jewelry? Haha, I hope you all have been well and are enjoying the drop in temperature like I am!! Ohhhhh wait until the leaves start changing! I love the smells too and the sound of dried up leaves crunching under my feet!

I guess that's all for now. Happy October everyone!! OOHHH!!! What are people thinking of being for Halloween? I almost forgot!! I've been watching a bunch of Halloween-themed makeup videos on YouTube and think I might do something like that and just dress warm, haha.

Fall Fashion Wishlist (Picture heavy)

2009-09-10T15:24:00.000-04:00

I was inspired by several posts from Ana of Style4M e where she put up pictures of fashion items she wanted for the upcoming season. Since Fall is fast approaching I decided to do something similar, well, really the same. Haha.

I will be featuring items on here from my wishlist on Forever21.com, Statusglam.com, and HotMiamiStyles.com.

First wishlist (in the form of a polyvore set) is from Forever21! I'm really in love with this store but I wish more of the items shown online came in a size larger than small or x-small, haha.

Fall Wishlist by LaDonnaF featuring Forever21

HotMiamiStyles.com - This is a Web site I discovered watching Sonia on Youtube@sccastaneda

1. This gorgeous kimono drape top - I want purple, black, white, and possibly this or the paler pink - $19.99

2. This lovely black and white striped knit off the shoulder top - $24.99

3. I love this dress but I don't think I'll be getting it - I'm so horribly self-conscious about my legs and this is so curve hugging but it doesn't stop me from wanting it $29.99

4. Black Lace Keyhole Top - $24.99 - Lace came back in a big way and I like that it is a focal point of the shirt.

5. I want a sexy vest so bad! Everywhere I go to look for one (and those slumpy drape cardigans) they are out! Grr. $24.99

My list was a lot longer but the Web site is constantly changing and many items are no longer there. I like the idea of the plaid layered top with what looks like a black sweater on top but I did the sweater layer thing where the sweater is sewn into the top and it just doesn't work.

Statusglam.com

1. Red cherry lashes #106 - $1.49
2. Silver love keychain - adorable bling! $7.99
3. Red glitter peace sign makeup bag with zebra print & matching wallet $7.99 I don't have a makeup bag yet!
4. Audree glass drop earings in black $9.99
5. Crystal hoop earrings $4.75
6. Crystal bulged heart ring $9.49
7. Clear/silver delilah Flower ring $6.99
8. Gold leaf earrings/necklace set $10.50
9. Tinker necklace $3.99 OMG I love Fairies
10. bow charm bracelet $2.99
11. Crystal vine bracelet $14.25
12. lola charm bracelet $13.99

Ugh! I have to stop! LOL!! There's more but I have to get off the computer. Please check out these Web sites if you don't know about them already. I think there is a coupon for HotMiamiStyles related to shipping if you use like sccastaneda or something. Sonia has a video on it (hotmiamistyles review).

What are you all obsessing about for Fall? I also want some boots and some thick tights but I can't find either anywhere! I followed DulceCandy's advice and went to target but they were cleaned out!
4.

Pathetic?

2009-09-08T11:41:00.002-04:00

I saw "I Love You, Man" the other day and it really struck a cord with me. If anyone has not seen it yet please do, it is hilarious!!

I spent the majority of my formative years away from my hometown and so lost a lot of friendships. I went to a boarding school for high school and then out of state for college. It is a really weird prospect to think of making new friends when you're technically an adult. At 24 I'm at a loss (as Paul Rudd is in the movie) of how to meet and make new friends, particularly girls. I was never a "girly girl" during middle school and beyond and, added to that, I was painfully shy (couldn't even order for myself at a restaurant, I would hide behind my mom).

Anyways, since about 23 (last year, LOL!) I've grown in my own femininity and decided I DO like makeup and I DO like clothes... I've lost weight and busted out of my shyness (high school and college were good for that) so I am more interested than I was before in having girls to hang out with, go shopping with, etc... but I don't know how to meet them. LOL!

I've explored the Internet and watch a lot of ladies on youtube that make makeup videos and other stuff as well as read blogs - so I have a question for you ladies. If someone read your blog/watched your youtube videos and discovered they live in the same area as you - would you be weirded out if they made an attempt to contact you and set up a meeting.. like to become friends? I mean... say you could read their blog (like mine) and they'd made a couple videos on youtube (like I have) so you can see who they are, etc., and are pretty sure they're not a psycho killer.

I've attempted to contact someone I discovered lived around me but have heard no response and I'm just worried I came off as stalkerish or scary or something. Lol. Oh well I guess right? I have met a few new girls in the past year but they're really not so much my "style" I guess... more interested in going out to bars/parties and meeting guys, etc. I've sort of never been a big drinker and I get pissed off most of the time at parties because drunk people are so inconsiderate and dumb, lol. Looking for someone I can spend time with shopping, doing makeup, talking about fashion, doing nails, etc.

P.S. Now that the four-day work week is done I am headed back to the gym everyday for 3:30-4:40. My starting weight for this back to the gymness is 150lbs. My goal for calories burned is 600 (I was hitting about 550 before).

Bored!

2009-09-07T10:17:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone,

It's Monday, Labor Day, and I have the day off but all my friends are working so I'm chilling at home with nothing to do. However, I gotta go to the mall as it's my boyfriend's birthday tomorrow and I still haven't gotten him anything.

I don't want to go to the mall though because I am severely wanting to buy some things for myself and I know I don't have the money. My willpower is so horrible when I'm alone. Lol. I need a bodyguard to guard me from spending on myself.

I've been pondering a part-time job to supplement my income at my regular job (just isn't enough with my dang bills!) but have been unable to find anything that offers nights/weekends, everything I've found part time want early morning shifts or overnight and I just can't do that with my full time job. So! I've been looking into sales stuff like being a rep for Lia Sophia jewelry. Does anyone know this brand? There was a rep. at my work last Christmas and I got a couple things from them that I still really like and when I went to Shecky's Girls Night Out in Boston they had a table set up there and me and my friend Jess decided to host a party (Sep. 18, Salem MA [send me a comment if you're interested in coming, the more the merrier]). So, I've been talking to the two reps who are involved in helping me set up the party and being a rep. sounds like a pretty good deal. You pay $150 for a start-up kit that includes like $1000 worth of jewelry (you keep this no matter what) and you decide how many hours each month you will give towards having parties, etc. The reps also said Lia Sophia sends them free stuff now and again and you get a percentage of what's earned at each party you throw. I really like the idea of setting my own hours for a part-time job, I love jewelry, and I think it would be cool to be able to make money just looking at jewelry with a bunch of ladies, lol.

What do you all think of that? Anyone else do that kind of sales work? I know Avon Mark or whatever does a similar thing but I don't know much about that (though I do like the idea of being able to sell makeup & accessories rather than just jewelry).

If any of you are located in MA and interested in meeting sometime shoot me a line. Gawd, that sounds so pathetic. LOL! I went away to school from high-school to college so I don't have that many girl friends around in MA so wouldn't mind a new shopping partner or something.

Mini Drugstore Haul

2009-09-02T08:25:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone!

I made a pact with myself not to spend a bunch of money on makeup anymore and to focus on using what I've already bought, however, before this went into effect there were a couple of things I wanted to get at the drugstore!

I bought:

Covergirl Lash Blast in black, finally! I LOVE this. The bristles, or lack thereof, were kind of intimidating the first time I tried it but I've been using it about a week now and I love how it coats and seems to separate my eyelashes.

L'Oreal HIP eyeshadow duo in gunmetal. This one is mischief but I couldn't find a picture of gunmetal on Walgreens.com. Gunmetal is a green duo with a really dark sort of grey gren and then a lighter golden green. I've been using this a lot and I LOVE the dark green, it makes my brown eyes pop!

I also got two L'Oreal HIP eyeliners which I cannot find on Walgreens.com either. In the display they were marked as new. I forget the exact colors I got but I think one was called violet flash (purple) and the other is a metallic green (goes perfect with the darker shadow in the gunmetal duo!)

Lastly I got two nail polishes. I wanted to get the Revlon Colorstay foundation but decided against it as I already have two foundations at home and wanted to focus on things I DON'T have (didn't have ANY green eyeshadow or colored eyeliners in pencil form). The polishes are Sinful Colors in greenbean (I think) and Old Gold (again, I think). I've had greenbean on my nails for about a week and the formula is a little weird. I had to work to get a good coat of polish on there without see-through spots and I feel like the color sort of jumps between a dark green and a light goldy green, which I think is awesome! I haven't tried the gold polish yet.

I've tried to take pictures with my phone but it is horrible and you can't really see the colors of the shadow or polish in addition to my face looking a hot mess so. :-)

Happy hump day folks! What all have you guys bought recently from the drugstore? I think I might grab a couple more of the L'Oreal HIP eyeshadow duos.

I got tagged! Photo Tag via Rosamond

2009-08-26T17:03:00.003-04:00

Rosamond of Beari's Beauties tagged me to do this photo tag

What you do:

1) Open your first photo folder

2) Scroll down to the 10th photo

3) Post that photo and story on your blog

4) Tag 5 other (or more) friends to do the same

Ha! This is a photo my boyfriend and I on halloween in 2007, about a month after we met. I've never been a big fan of taking pictures of myself and this is one of my first few attempts (hence the retarded angle and extreme close-up). I apologize for the snogging, we did a lot of that the first few months. HAHA!

Well, that's all for that. I'm going to tag a couple of people as well.

1. Holly!

2. Ella!

3. Courtney!

4. Stephanie!

5. Denysia!

Hope you had fun reading - anyone is welcome to do the tag as well, have fun!

Dolly Tag - The List

2009-08-25T08:16:00.002-04:00

Holly started a Tag about 5 celebrities you'd be allowed to cheat on your significant other with, lol.

I figured I'd do it because it seems quick and simple and I've been missing blogging (if you read my last post you'll know I'm unable to get on the internet at home now)

1. Mark Ruffalo

How frickin adorable right!? Personally, I think he looks a lot like my bf (or my bf looks a lot like him) so I feel very blessed because Mark is my ultimate celebrity crush - He's cute, he's funny, and he's a total family man.

2. Gerard Butler

OMG I love him! He's handsome, intelligent, talented, and just seems like an all-around great guy. I try to watch EVERY movie he comes out with.

3. Jake Gyllenhaal

Another cutey! I think a lot of folks were crushing on this celeb until Brokeback Mountain came out. For me, he's still in my list.

4. David Beckham

How can you NOT mention David Beckham in a hot celebrity list!? He's gorgeous AND he plays soccer, which is my fav. sport. I think Beckham is my longest running celebrity crush but he's dropped down in the list as I'm not really a fan of Posh... but who am I to judge right? She's beautiful and I'm sure she's a wonderful lady and mom. :-) Their kids are adorable too.

5. Eduardo Verastegui

Classic model/actor - the guy is just drop-dead gorgeous. He was on an episode of Charmed and I tracked him down through google. Very nice to look at, haha. I wouldn't say he's much of a celebrity though, yet.

Ok! That's it. I tag anyone who wants to do this - Holly wanted folks to comment to her blog with your post doing the tag so if you do it let her know too. I put a link to her blog in the "tag"

UPDATE!

2009-08-24T15:15:00.002-04:00

I'm sort of MIA from blogging right now as the only time I have available to be online now is at work and I can't really use it for personal things. The Internet cable that was connecting my boyfriend's computer to the Internet in my house was shredding (we were searching unsuccessfully for some thick electrical tape to combat this as my Aunt's door [Internet goes through her modem] was shredding the wire casing) and I think my Aunt got fed up and took the cable out and put it into the hallway where the dog ended up chewing it so the tiny clip piece is off now, a.k.a it won't stay in the modem.

I haven't really had anything to blog about lately anyways - money issues have made it so that I've decided I will not be purchasing any makeup (save for perhaps a few drugstore products I want to try) or clothing. I'm really needing to save and with my current income-to-bills ratio I can't be spending much AND be able to save. Sad, I know.

I think I am going to be focusing on beefing up my makeup skills (practicing more on myself and friends, when they let me, lol) and getting some good use out of the makeup I've already purchased. Hopefully I will get the cable fixed soon (it is REALLY long so I think we can just go somewhere to get it clipped and have the clippy part replaced).

Until then... I'll miss you! Feel free to follow me on Twitter (@ladonnaflynn) and I may try to figure out this blogging through my phone thing.

Cambo Soup Giveaway!

2009-08-19T07:35:00.002-04:00

Cambo Soup is having a Giveaway!

I've linked ^ to her post and blog there but here are the rules and what to do as well.

Basic Giveaway Rules:

1. You must be a follower of my blog

2. If you have a blog, please mention my giveaway in a post and link me. TY!

3. The contest ends August 28, 2009 (11:59 p.m. Pacific Time). I will judge entries over the weekend and the winners will be announced the subsequent Monday. If it gets too hard to make a decision then a random number generator will be used. You guys have about two weeks to do this!

What You Have to Do:

1. Make an awesome outfit/collage on Polyvore (people/makeup/clothes all OK)

2. Post the outfit on your blog on the same entry where you mention my giveaway

3. Leave a comment on this entry saying you want to enter and leave the url of the post where you mentioned my giveaway/ posted your Polyvore outfit in your own blog.

4. If you do not have a blog, please take a snapshot of your Polyvore outfit on your screen and email it to me at applegrace (at) gmail (dot) com.

What a cool contest huh!?! I'm really excited to enter just because I LOVE Polyvore and am in there quite often making fantasy outfits, haha.

Anyway, here's my entry and I hope you guys sign up to her blog, it's pretty cool!

Casual by LaDonnaF featuring Converse shoes

Urban Decay Friends & Family Sale - 30% off entire order

2009-08-13T13:01:00.002-04:00

Urban Decay is having their Friends and Family sale which means you get 30% off your entire purchase at check out by using the code FNFF1

The sale ends on August 20.

I HAD been planning on getting their massive Book of Shadows palette as it is normally $45 and I haven't had the money (when I remember I want it) to get it. However, I was told on their Twitter that it sold out on Aug 7. FML!

I'm really sad about that and it ALMOST makes me not want to spend my money on anything else but, who am I kidding, there's still stuff I want from their line.

I want:

a refill of their eyeshadow primer potion

their pore and brightening complexion perfection primers

their ink for eyes in binge, empire, and pyrotechnics

their naked and jailbait lipsticks

their score blush

and ALL of the heavy metal glitterliners!

Hmmmm, all of that would be like $205 (without tax) so with the 30% discount that's like $143 (again, without tax) but that's like $60 off!

What do you all want to get? Did you already get something?? Share share

Obsessions Tag! Your 5 Latest Obsessions

2009-08-13T07:40:00.002-04:00

I got this tag from Aquaheart who tagged anyone who wanted to do it, heh.
The thing is to list 5 things that you are currently obsessed with so here goes!

1. MAKEUP! (picture is [not my makeup] curtesy of necessarymakeup)

I am so totally gaga for makeup that I have to really make a point to not spend all my money beefing up my collection! Haha. I'm currently saving up to get some more brushes but will be getting a few things at the drugstore that I've heard are really good and comparable to high-end brands, woot!

2. Nail Polish and Nail Art! (picture is [not my nail polish] courtesy of Karen's makeup and beauty blog )

I have started collection nail polishes (in addition to makeup) and doing my nails WAY more than I ever have in my life! Haha. I want to get some acrylic paint and brushes to start doing some of the awesome designs I've seen on youtube. Crafts stores/sally's here I come!

3. Blogging/Twitter (picture is courtesy of Toothpaste for Dinner and Zeugma)

I've always been on facebook and myspace and stuff like that but never have I been as active and happy about it as with Twitter and Blogging. I enjoy Twittering because it's just like ...whatever you want, whenever you want, and there's so much you can learn about on there with the trending topics, etc. With blogging I've discovered an avenue to be a little vain, talking about myself and what I like, and I've also learned a lot too. I can go to other peoples' blogs and discover things about products I never knew/might have wanted to try/will buy, etc. I've discovered places where I can get things inexpensively, etc. It's just a great arena to learn and express yourself and I'm so glad I found it/them! (wow I'm only at 3, haha!)

4. My Phone

Woohoo! I love my Blackberry (I hate AT&T though, lets not go there). I originally got the blackberry just because my Aunt's work was going to pay for it, LOL! Then that plan fell through and I ended up paying for it so I changed my plan to the bare minimum. However, I recently switched it back so my Blackberry does a bunch - I go on the internet, twitter, facebook, check my e-mail, etc. I love it.

5. Coffee (photo courtesy of [Dunkin Donuts!] energyfiend)

I LOVE coffee! When I was younger I stayed away from the stuff like it was the devil (I'm short and I had heard it stunts your growth, and lets face it... it stains your teeth!) However, when I started my full-time 7:30-3:30 job it was like, the cool thing to do/everyone was doing it (drinking coffee). So, I started having a cup (like 6oz) from the fast brewer in the little coffee room at work. Within no time I was in that coffee room like three times a day. Then I decided I would stop drinking it because caffeine is not that great for you and I wanted to whiten my teeth. I stopped drinking it for about a month and now I'm back to drinking it everyday, just two cups now. But, I've started buying different brands (dunkin', folders, green mountain) and experimenting with brewing. Ugh. I bought an expensive machine for at home and now I need it all the time, even on the weekends!

Alright, well those are my current obsessions. I hope you guys enjoyed reading!!

What are all of your current obsessions? I tag everyone who wants to participate, particularly
1. Holly (DollyMix184)
2. Ella (Ellacinderella)
3. Dulce (Dulce Candy)
4. Courtney (escourtn3y)
5. Sonia (sccastaneda)

Thanks so much for reading my blog!

Upcoming MAC collections and wishlist!

2009-08-12T13:51:00.002-04:00

MAC Nail Trend F/W 09 with Jin Soon Choi Aug. 27, 2009 (picture and info from temptalia.com) -
Nail Lacquers ($12.00)
-Cool Reserve*
-For Fun
-Dance All Night
-Rich Dark Delicious
-Dry Martini *
-Beyond Jealous

MAC Magic, Mirth, and Mischief Collection Oct. 15, 2009(photo and information from temptalia.com) -

Lipstick ($14.50)
-pervette
-utter fun
-surprise me
-total wow!

Dazzleglass ($18.00)
-she-zam
-jingle jangle
-phiff!

Cremsheen Glass ($18.00)
-Ever So Rich
-Partial to Pink
-Boy Bait

Soft Sparkle Eyepencil ($14.50)
-Iris Accents*
-Night Sky

Mineralize Eyeshadow Duo ($19.50)
-Devil may Care
-Under your spell
-mayhem
-midnight madness
-its a miracle*
-blue sorcery

Mineralize Blush ($21.00)
-su perdu pernatural*
-conjure up

Nail Lacquer ($12.00)
-$$$ Yes
-Lucky number

MAC Make-Up Art Collection Aug. 20, 2009(picture and info from temptalia.com) -

Reflects glitter ($19.50)
-copper
-rust

Glitter ($19.50)
-gold
-fuschia

Pigments ($19.50)
-cocomotion *
-brash and bold
-heritage rouge
-push the edge

Lipstick ($14.00)
-front lit
-high strung
-lovin' it
-hold the pose
-full body

Eyeshadow Quads ($36.00)
-photo realism (greens)*
-skintone eyeshadow(neutrals)
-private viewing(pinks and purples)

Eyeshadows ($14.50)
-crest the wave
-off the page
-maira's magic
-haunting
-purple shower
-violet trance

Technakohl liner ($14.50)
-colour matters*
-obviously orange
-artistic license*
-full of fuschia*
-graphblack

Blush ($18.00)
-the perfect cheek
-notable

All together I better be saving around $190 for everything I want. ACK! (my math doesn't even seem right, haha.) Plus tax it is probably like $300 or something.

I probably won't get everything I want. I'm trying to save up to get my own place (cross your fingers my Aunt gets the job she wants soon) and that means not spending all my moneys on makeup or clothes.

What do you all want from the above collections, or just from MAC in general?

T-shirt giveaway!

2009-08-11T07:52:00.002-04:00

Nicola Ticola is having a contest where you can win a cool punky t-shirt.

Here is the contest information - Join In

To enter the contest you must be a follower of her blog (there's a link in her name, Nicola Ticola) and leave a comment on the blog post.

Also, you can post about her contest in your blog and that counts as another entry.

I can't wait to get some more followers so I can have a contest. So fun!

Happy Thursday!

2009-08-06T08:23:00.002-04:00

I felt like doing an update. I started this blog mostly because I was interested in blogging in general but also as a means for tracking my weightloss and such.

So, as my readers know (or you should!) I'm involved in a 4-day work week at my job where I work 4 10 hour days and then have a day off during the week. Well, it has been hard for me to figure out a time for exercising (I was going to my work's gym at 3:30 when I got off of work and then getting picked up by my boyfriend after he got off of work at around 4:40). Well, now I get out of work at 5:30 and get the train at 5:57 and get home around 6:30. My boyfriend now goes to the gym after work at like 4:30 (even though I begged him to wait so we could go together and share his membership at Planet Fitness, lol) because he doesn't want to hang around the house for like 2hrs. So.... by the time I get home I'm tired, hungry, and just want to eat dinner and go to bed. Lol.

I'm TRYING to motivate myself to go for a run when I get home... dinner will be there when I'm done but lately it's usually ME cooking or it is psychotically hot and I'd probably pass out.

Last night (aug 4) it was AWESOME out.. not too hot and there was a breeze but GUESS WHAT!!!! I get a call from Brandon (my boyfriend) at 5:55 while I'm waiting for the train that he got REARENDED!!! I freaked. I had had to take the car to the dealership on Saturday because the brakes/tires were really squeaky and it sounded dangerous and ended up having to pay $314 to get the front brakes replaced ($218 for LABOR) and then Brandon gets in an accident on Wed. OMG!

The damage is not really that bad... I'd already backed into a fire hydrant so there was a dimple in the (PLASTIC) bumper in the back and now there's a BIG crease in the bumper, a bunch of scratches (and red paint transfer from the stupid lady that hit him) and the bumper is sort of disconnected on the left side from the rest of the car. Also, when he got hit from behind our car was forced into the car that'd stopped short in front of him so there's some squishing of the plastic thing that holds the front license plate.

Anyways, the lady told Brandon she would pay for the damage but that she doesn't want to go through any insurance companies. I feel like I should... like, why should I do her a favor to make her insurance not go up when she HIT my car because she was being a dumby?! Brandon was upset with me because he thought I was freaking out about the accident too much and it wasn't that bad... I don't know.

Back to weightloss though... I'm 155 so staying steady despite not exercising, lol. I'm pleased with that but I want to be LOOSING weight and I feel like the definition I'd gained during my good working out period is gone.

Hopefully life will calm down, go back to normal, and I can start exercising again. I was just too upset/stressed last night to take advantage of the nice weather.

I hope everyone is doing great!! I probably won't be having many posts of late with new clothes/makeup or anything but I DID get in a MAC order I'd purchased before and some KORES guava body stuff I'd gotten from hautelook. I got 3 eyeshadows from MAC (trax, mythology, and retrospeck) as well as a 15 palette ... I swatched them and am totally in love but haven't used them yet (feel their too bold/sparkly for work, haha).

Makeup Collection August 2009

2009-08-03T10:36:00.002-04:00

I've seen billions of videos on youtube showing the youtuber's makeup collection and I wanted to participate. I will probably do a video myself once I figure out how to upload and edit using my camera rather than my boyfriend's built in webcam. I'm hoping I can get some editing software for free from somewhere (if you all know something about this lemme know please!)

Anyways, here's some items in my makeup collection that I use on a regular basis, that I love, etc.

ELF, eyeslipsface.com

Elf's all over color stick in pink lemonade - usually use this as a blush

Elf's all over face brush - I use this for bronzer mostly and powder foundation. Using it less though as I got a kabuki brush from natural minerals or something.

ELF's brightening eye color in drama - omg I used to use this ALL the time for an awesome silvery smokey eye when I was going out. I use the light silver pretty often as an inner corner highlight still.

Bare Escentuals

mineral blush in crushed velvet (couldn't find a picture of it, came inthe Get Started Eyes, Cheeks, Lips kit, tan-dark)

I also use the brushes from this kit (except the lip liner), the lip plumping gloss is a little too intense for me in terms of the tingling effects.

Coastal Scents

V~ I LOVE the 88 piece makeup palette and I use it pretty often, the shadows are a little powdery but work nice.

Urban Decay

I use this palette a lot more than I did when I first bought it (after watching a tutorial from Fafinettex3) because I've learned more about color combination and what looks good on my eyes, with my skintone, etc.

this primer potion is the holy grail, however, I've never used any other kind of primer. I think I will pick something up (probably drugstore) just to be able to compare in my mind and feel more happy I have this. I also want to try their new pore minimizing potion!

MAC

The MAC graphic garden fresh cut palette from Nordstrom - I JUST got this Friday but I've already used it a bunch of times; I think my new obsession are the last two colors, poppy noir and fresh cut.

Alright, I think that's all I'll put up here in the blog post so I don't kill everyone with pictures. If you're interested to see anything else I can post something in comments or whatnot, like what I use for foundation, etc.

I also recently placed an order with MAC for three eyeshadows and a palette for my growing (slowly) collection. The shadows are 'mythology', 'retrospeck', and 'trax'. Super excited to try them out when I get them. I also own a quad with 'amberlights', 'honeylust', 'nylon', and 'saddle' along with the lipsticks 'blankety' and 'brave new bronze'.

I had to get the two front brakes on my car fixed ($300) this weekend so I won't be purchasing any new makeup for a while even though I REALLY want some new brushes (was looking at ELF's studio sculpt line and/or Coastal Scents) a couple palettes from Coastal Scents, and I want to try some drugstore stuff I've been hearing rave reviews on (some stuff from Revlon and Rimmel).

Ah well. Here's to saving up!! I will probably posting up some grumpy blogs soon about not being able to do anything, lol.

Shopping

2009-07-23T12:09:00.003-04:00

Hi again!

I've discovered it is impossible to focus solely on work when you're sick!! So, I decided I'd do my shopping trip to Delia's post while at lunch (don't have much of an appetite)

I grabbed a couple pairs of jeans (buy one get one half off AND I had a $10 gift card) - two boot cut jeans in a vintage wash and a dark blue wash and a pair of skinny jeans (I forget what color).

I also grabbed this awesome plaid tunic, sort of like the drop waist ones but it doesn't really have a defined waist (there's a bit of cinching in the back)

Last but not least I bought this lovely cami with lacing in a pretty beige color and a great brown belt (my new favorite outfit!).

Yikes! Been a While

2009-07-23T10:09:00.009-04:00

Hi!

I know it's been quite a while since I blogged but I've been rather crazy lately. I went of a family vacation to Syracuse, NY to visit more family :-)

Here are some pics from my trip! Was like a 6hr drive and we also went to Niagara Falls which was a 3hr trip as well! Lots of driving.

<~Here is a photo I took during one of the stops (I drove almost the whole way up, ugh!) Those are my sister's dirty legs in the backseat. [New shirt/tunic from Delia's]

<~Here is a photo of all of us in front of Niagara Falls. My Grandmother, my Uncle Roberto's wife Mari, his son Felix, my Uncle Roberto, my sister June, my Dad Nelson, Ruben, my brother Nathaniel, Marco, me, Alex.

<~A shot of Niagara Falls - the mist was awesome!

<~We also went to the zoo. Was pretty fun, haven't been to a zoo in a long time.

So that's all for now. I'm trying to get back into the swing of work. I'm on the 4-day work week program so I'm here for 10hrs a day. Also, been sick so I've mostly been working and sleeping, haha. I did a little shopping before my trip at Delia's so I'll have another post soon showing all that I got.

LUSH!!

2009-07-06T08:46:00.002-04:00

Hellooooo!

I know it's been a bit since I've done an actual blog post but here is a new one!

They opened a Lush at my local mall and I was able to stop in this weekend and actually really check it out (and purchase some stuff!)

I've watched tons of videos reviewing Lush products so I had to get some stuff. I was able to get a sort of sampler box from an old promotion they were doing focusing on hair products.

I got samples of:

seanik solid shampoo (really for my bf to try) - and

soak and float - and

jungle conditioner - and

veganese conditioner (LOVE!) - and

the big tease styling gel.

I haven't used jungle, seanik, or the big tease yet but I DID use both the soak and float shampoo and the veganese conditioner and I am in love. I died my hair red recently and then did not wash it much in the hopes that the red dye would stay in longer and this screwed up my scalp - I had trouble with itchiness and dandruff and then increased oilyness. I'm hoping this shampoo and conditioner will help - so far I feel like my hair is a lot more moisturized than it was without me having to use my spray-in leave-in conditioner from bed head.

I also got -

honey I shrunk the kids soap (OMG LOVE!) - and

the Up You Gets emotibomb.

I really got the emotibomb for my bf who has a hard time being human in the morning as it has a super citrusy scent that I felt would totally rejuvinate him (or me if I decide to use it) and it would be good for in the morning.

The honey I shrunk the kids soap leaves my skin squeaky clean so that awesome honey scent ends up getting covered over by my lotion - maybe I can find a lotion that smells just like it.

Anyways, that's my sorta haul from Lush - I only spent like $23, the sampler thing was $15 and I got like a small sliver of the honey soap so that I could try it first and that was only like $9.38.

Yaaaay! I hope everyone had a great 4th. I'm pooped to be back at work and today is my first 10hr day for the 4-day work week pilot my work is doing. I've already had a bad omen when I got to work my computer wouldn't power on. Soooooo I'm at another cubicle far away from my work friends and the stupid thing doesn't even have adobe so I can't listen to music (I have no CDs at work). Waaahhhh

Big Beautiful Bloggerversary Contest

2009-06-30T08:01:00.002-04:00

This is a post regarding ChefAshBabe's contest which she extended the deadline of.

ChefAshBabe is having her Big Beautiful Bloggerversary Contest! in celebration of her 1st year. I'm posting this as part of the contest (again) but mainly because she has extended her deadline to July 10.
:::

So I've finally decided on a prize for the Bloggerversary contest.

I've got an Elf Cosmetics Train case Jam packed with goodies. Goodies include but aren't limited to: Sunblock, bath and body samples, candle tarts and A MYSTERY $25 GC!. I"ll be adding to the case as the contest goes along.

Rules are pretty straightforward: (Please post a comment with each entry)

Post a comment & tell me what you'd like to find in the case (keep it under $10 please) I'll take a few suggestions and toss 'em in too. (1 entry)

Follow me on Twitter (1 entry)

Follow my Blog (1 entry)

Grab my button and make a post on your blog about the contest

(1 entry)

Tweet this: Win a @eyeslipsface train case full of bath, body & beauty Goodies & A Mystery $25 GC from @ChefAshbabe http://tinyurl.com/mj7vcn Ends 7/10

(1x per day)

Contest Ends July 10th. I will post a winner using Random.org. on July 11th.

20 Questions - Tag

2009-06-25T07:54:00.002-04:00

I grabbed this from Elle
I tag anyone who wants to participate :-)

1. Thing you cannot leave the house without - Keys!
2. Favourite brand of makeup - I don't have a favorite yet
3. Favourite flower - Lilacs

4. Favourite clothing store - H&M

5. Favourite perfume - Right now, Juicy Couture "Viva La Juicy"
6. Heels or Flats - Getting into heels but more flip flips and sneakers

7. Do you make good grades - Adequate

8. Favourite colour - Blue

9. Do you drink energy drinks - Not often

10. Do you drink juice - LOVE juice, so yes.

11. Do you like swimming - Yes
12. Do you eat fries with a fork - No way, those are finger food!
13. Favourite moisturiser - Clinique Dramatically Different

14. Do you want to get married later on in life- Maybe
15. Do you get mad easily - Annoyed but not really mad.

16. Are you into ghost hunting - No

17. Any phobias - Bees
18. Do you bite your nails - Nope

19. Have you ever had a near death experience - Yes, on a 4 lane highway!

20. Do you drink coffee - I've given it up so I can whiten my teeth!

Have fun ladies!

Hump Day!

2009-06-24T09:03:00.002-04:00

Hi all.

I haven't posted since Monday but nothing noteworthy has really happened, hehe.

Anyways, I decided to do a post today because I'm happy it's the middle of the week. I started using some mineral makeup yesterday by Naked Minerals (their Almond shade). I've been looking into doing a powder foundation for the summer because liquid just feels too heavy for me. As this is only my second day I don't have a LOT to say about it but so far so good. I was surprised and impressed by how little I had to put on to achieve the coverage I wanted and I like that it does not make me shiny. I feel like my liquid foundation added quite a shine to my face. Also, I feel a lot less oily/dirty by the middle of the day. With my liquid foundation I'd have to curb the desire to go wash my face after lunch.

However, the corners of my nostrils (where they meet my face and blackheads like to hang out) is wicked irritated by this powder. I don't know what it is but I'm constantly wanting to wipe,itch,rub right around there and it's driving me a little crazy. Anyone have any cures for this?

This is my first time using powder foundation and its a mineral formula that's pressed (have heard lots of rants about the mess loose minerals gives ya so went with pressed). Besides the itchiness around my nose it is great! I barely have to put on any bronzer either because it is a duo which has a light and dark shade.

On a non-makeup note I was accepted into a pilot program for my work which will give me 4 day work weeks (but 10hr days). This will start after July 4 and I'm both excited and scared, lol. I don't mind my 8hr days so much but I really like being able to get out at 3:30. With this pilot program I'll be out at 5:30 and so at work 2 extra hours. I don't think it should be a huge problem and am hoping I'll be able to be MORE productive. We shall see. I'm excited to be able to start my weekends on Thursday (and not just because my boyfriend has Fridays off). I'll be able to schedule doctors appointments and the like on fridays without having to take sick time, yadda yadda (so annoying!)

Sooo, yeah. That's all. Happy hump day!

Haulage/Update

2009-06-22T08:23:00.003-04:00

Hi bloggers!

I'm amending my writing style a little because I now have followers, lol. I went shopping this weekend after hearing about sales at Old Navy and Kohls. They had $2 tank tops at Old Navy and just about everything at Kohls was some % off (was hard not to go broke in there!).

I've been wanting to buy a couple dresses for the summer (even though the weather has been cold and rainy lately) because I've been feeling better about my body and wanting to break out of my love affair with long jeans in the summer, haha. Alas, my first stop was to Forever 21 and the two dresses I tried on pushed me right back into hating my legs and being depressed about my chubby chest, lol.

Anyways, at Old Navy I got 5 basic layering tank tops that look like this one. I got white, black, a purple and white striped one, a crazy tie dye sort of one that was in oranges, reds, and yellows, and a green and white striped one.

Also, I got two of these shirts which are WICKED cute!! ( I got red and green). I got four pairs of basic flip flops too, black, brown, green, and red. I was disappointed because on the website they had all these colors available but in the store there was barely anything left in my size (7). I ended up getting the black ones in a size 8 but they work alright.

At Kohls I tried on a couple more dresses but wasn't feeling it but I did finally buy a purse (after 3 hours of searching for lost keys that I KNOW were picked up and then not turned in for hours, come on people! hahah) . I also tried on some jean capris but it was craziness... nothing fit! I was even looking in size 11 and they were too tight. Bah!

<~This is it and I LOVE it. The brown is this rich chocolate color and looking at it makes me not so sad that it's all rainy here in Mass!

Well, that's it for my haulage. I'm dying for some Threadless t-shirts and some Lush bath products so I will be saving for those and I will do another Haul post for that. I hope everyone had a great weekend. I had an interesting one. My boyfriend Brandon has family in California (San Francisco to be exact) and they all are here for a week and some change so I got to meet them on Saturday. I would have been freaking out but Saturday was the day I went to Old Navy and Forever 21 so I was sort of bumming about not fitting right into those dresses so I wasn't as nervous as I would have been otherwise to meet more of his family.

He had two aunts come up (on his mom's side) one of which has two twin girls (5 and 7) and a really fun husband, hahah. The firls were super cute and totally in love with Brandon and his brother Kyle. We had sort of a cookout thing and his uncle Carlos came out with his daughter Sakuera (sp?). We also watched that Karate Panda movie and the kids passed out one Brandon and Kyle (so cute!).

On Saturday night we ended up going to this beautiful restaurant/bar with his aunt Deanna (the one without the kids) and she bought us some food and a couple drinks (omg I'm such a lightweight but I didn't embarass myself Brandon says). She's so cool! She's been all over and is one of those people who totally motivates you! I have all these ideas in my head now about traveling and starting to write seriously (I REALLY want to write books as my career).

Anyway, that's my weekend and haul. I'll do a weightloss/exercise post soon. I have to buy one of those tape measurers that isn't stiff so I can measure my weightloss on more than the scale because it hasn't gone down but I feel like I'm slimmer.

Bloggerversayr Contest (entry)

2009-06-15T09:39:00.003-04:00

Blogger Ashley is having a contest! It's called the Beautiful Bloggerversary contest and features an Elf Costmetics train case with beauty products inside.

The rules are:

Rules are pretty straightforward: (Please post a comment with each entry)

Post a comment & tell me what you'd like to find in the case (keep it under $10 please) I'll take a few suggestions and toss 'em in too. (1 entry)

Follow me on Twitter (1 entry)

Follow my Blog (1 entry)

Grab my button and make a post on your blog about the contest

(1 entry)

Tweet this: Win a @eyeslipsface train case (Black, bandanna print) full of bath, body & beauty Goodies from @ChefAshbabe http://tinyurl.com/mj7vcn

(1x per day)

So Flippin Excited!

2009-06-05T11:01:00.002-04:00

My rates at work are going to be in the toilet today. I am so excited about the concert tonight.

I don't think anyone reads this but, if you do, and you forgot my previous post, my boyfriend and I are going to see Gogol Bordello tonight at the House of Blues in Boston. They don't do a whole lot of performances on the East Coast (that I can get to) so it is so AWESOME that they are right in Boston. Tickets (2) only cost me like $60!

My boyfriend and I were silly and we bought a bunch of clothing in purple because we lover Gogol's song "Start Wearing Purple" and we're going to wear purple outfits to the concert.

Watch the video below!

For weightloss stuff - Well, I've gotten kind of lazy and haven't taken the lipo 6 pills so I don't know if I'll really be doing updates much anymore. I'm still working out everyday but if anyone is looking to find out if the Lipo 6 works by reading this blog - well, you probably won't. Lol.

Like I wrote before when I was doing good with my blogging/pill taking... the extra energy I was feeling wore off after about a week of taking the pills which stunk a lot. Also, the scales I have access to are all weird so I was thinking I was loosing more than I might actually have lost.

Regardless of what I have LOST I feel really great. All of my friends that haven't seen me for a week or a few days have commented on me looking slimmer (which is really what matters right?) so I am happy.

I can feel the muscle coming back in my legs and have seen growing definition in my arms and my stomach (mostly the sides) so there is improvement in my physique even if I haven't dropped 20lbs.

Jergens Natural Glow product review

2009-05-27T08:54:00.002-04:00

So, I forgot whose blog I was reading but they recommended using Jergens Natural Glow as an alternative to spending hours in the sun or using tanning beds and so I decided to give this a shot.

I've never been one for caring much about whether or not I look tan but due to my boyfriend having gone to Florida for a week I was sort of self-conscious about my pale skin being compared to his so I did go tanning several times.

I got tan then but am not really wanting to continue to go to the tanning bed all the time because of everything people say it does to your skin (skin cancer, wrinkles, etc.) so I actually went out and bought the Jergens stuff.

I bought the Natural Glow revitalizing daily moisturizer as well as the Natural Glow foaming daily moisturizer (for your face).

I've been using this for about three days now and last night at the gym I saw my friend Jessica who I haven't seen for about 4 days or so (when she told me my tan was fading) and the first thing she said to me was "Have you been tanning? Like, a lot?" I cracked up because she sounded worried for me.

So - My review -

The product very obviously works. It comes in Fair, Medium, and Medium/Tan and I believe I got the Medium one.
The only thing BAD I have to say about the product is the smell and I really do not like the way the foaming stuff feels on my face. It says on the back of it to use a golf sized amount - DON'T! I suppose you don't have to get the foaming one as you can just put the revitalizing moisturizer on your face in addition to your body. It is a really creamy formula and it does make your skin feel moisturized like any other lotion. BUT it has that fake tanning stuff smell to it that I really don't like and it overpowers my current perfume. Boo.

Beauty Stuffs

2009-05-26T11:19:00.005-04:00

My bf got me a sephora gift card for my birthday and I ordered online (couldn't wait to go to the store, silly).

I bought:
Urban Decay Get Baked palette - This is AWESOME! I've recently gotten into golds/browns and these colors are SO vibrant. I love them for summer.

Stila's Cherry Crush Lip/Cheek Stain - OMG!! This is so incredible. I've never been a huge blush person (I own like two) but I watched their video on this on youtube and I have wanted it for a while now. I guess it works with your skin and just makes the PERFECT flush of natural looking color on your cheeks (and your lips!). I used this on both my lips and cheeks with just a light pink lip gloss and it looked so awesome

Opi's Underwater Fantasy from the new mermaid in the shade collection - This color is not as purple as it looks in the swatch thing and it is very shimmery (I guess I should have paid more attention to sephora's description thing) but it has grown on me. It looks great with both one coat and two.

Juicy Couture's Viva La Juicy (To Go) - This is a roll-on application perfume that I got after watching one of fafinette's videos. I've been looking for a more fruity kind of perfume. I got this in the roll-on applicator because it was less product and I really just wanted to try it.

This smells great but I find it is too light for me - it doesn't last and if I want to smell it I have to stick my nose to my wrist (where I applied it) to smell it. I like, I guess, a stronger smell that lasts me throughout the day. By like noontime I can't smell this anymore. But, if you don't mind reapplying your perfume throughout the day this is good!

Here is a sorta blurry phone camera shot of nails I did using underwater fantasy (and my Konad image stamping thing). I'm still trying to get the hang of the stamp - Most of the time I can't get the image to be in the same spot/going the same direction on every nail. I've also been using china glaze' top coat and it almost always smears the image. I need a new top coat!

Lipo

2009-05-15T14:38:00.002-04:00

I'm back on the pills - energy is still lacking and the appetite supression I think has waned off as well.

Dangit!

Maybe it is just because I am aware of it, I don't know. I'm still working out everyday though so hopefully the pills will do what they say and help me loose weight.

I feel great when I'm exercising but I seem to have trouble actually shedding weight and that's the main reason why I started the pills.

Anyways, here's to dropping the pounds! Happy friday everyone - soon to be off to visit my friend at college before she graduates.

Lipo 6 (4) Update

2009-05-12T10:48:00.002-04:00

Ugh, so I've never been good with keeping up with pills.

Shortly after posting about how the energy boost I was getting with this was waning I stopped taking them. It wasn't really a conscious thing (yes it was) LOL!

I will probably be back with it next week (the label talks about a cycle of 8 weeks and then 2 weeks off, I think I made it nearly 2 weeks, lol)

Since being off of it I've had an increase in my appetite but that's it - I haven't had anymore energy issues (whereas I was feeling tired about 2pm while on my second week of the pills ((after I talked about the energy boost wearing off)))

I still exercise everyday (about 30-35mins of cardio and about 15mins of strength training and stretching) but I think the pills were really helping me with managing my eating habits.

My weight can be pretty fluctuatory (is that a word?) but I think I might've gained back a pound since being off the pills (however, I finally went grocery shopping so I have great stuff to eat in the house again whereas before I didn't)

So, next monday I will try to get back on the pills and see if that helps me with my eating. I hadn't noticed that I wasn't as hungry while I was on them and they don't really advertise that as a function of the pills.

Boo.

2009-05-07T09:31:00.002-04:00

Bah - I skipped a workout yesterday.

I've discovered this weird soreness/mild pain in my right leg. It's a combo back of my thigh/hip pain which kicks up when I straighten out my leg/walk. I'm not sure what it is/what I did but hopefully it goes away.

I ended up having to do some shopping for the house (toilet paper, trash bags, etc.) so I didn't have time to workout before Brandon came to pick me up and then when I was home I had that pain so I didn't use my ab lounge.

Oh well. I will be working out today and I'll update you all tomorrow.

GOGOL BORDELLO

2009-05-05T15:34:00.002-04:00

Holy CRACKERS!!

I just got tickets to see Gogol Bordello on June 5 in BOSTON!!

I'm so excited I could pee myself.

If you don't know who they are you should seriously look them up

http://www.gogolbordello.com/

Lipo 6 (3) and stuff

2009-05-05T09:49:00.002-04:00

Week 2 on Lipo 6

So the increased energy I was feeling last week with the pills has dissipated. I started drinking decaf coffee yesterday.

My workout on Monday was great - I went an extra 10 minutes for cardio and felt fine afterwards. My motivation/inspiration to work out is awesome, better than it has ever been. I think Lipo 6 has really helped me make exercising a part of my life.

During the weekend I usually am lazy and don't do anything, thinking of it as my break time. But since taking Lipo 6 I've had the drive to work out. Friday I took the day off of work (mental health day) and ended up running all around Salem. I also ran on Saturday and worked out on my ab lounge (which had become just a place to hang clothes) and I even went for a run on Sunday AND worked out on the ab lounge again.

My weight is stable as of yesterday (mon) at 148-149 so we'll see if it goes down at all this week.

Boyfriend stuff - I think I let my loneliness get the best of me during the last two days Brandon was gone in Florida... 9 days is a long time to not see someone you're used to seeing everyday so... was hard for me. Anyways, he brought me two necklaces and a cool shot glass from Florida and even got my Aunt a gift - very nice.

Lipo 6 (2)

2009-04-30T08:19:00.002-04:00

Took the 2 pill dosage this morning and feel more energized than before.

However, results might be a bit shoddy because I'm pretty emotional right now.

My boyfriend is on vacation in Florida with his guy friends and I just found a picture of him in a hot tub with some girls.

I'm disappointed, pissed, sad, and worried... but really I don't think he was doing anything it just sucks to have to find that... to know that he's hanging out with girls in that way. I asked him before he left not to be in the hot tub with girls (the hot tub is at their hotel) because I knew his guy friends would be bringing chicks home to try and bang.

I'm disappointed that he couldn't even respect my wishes. That's the ONLY thing I asked.

Whatever.

Anyway, I weighed myself yesterday at the gym and it was about 148 so I've lost some weight since the last time I was weighed which was actually April 2. Buuuut, I've been working out pretty regularly since then so I'm not attributing the weight loss to Lipo 6.

It's my third day on the pills. Yesterday's workout was lower key than monday's and tuesday's but not because I didn't feel like I could do more or push myself.

I'll write again tomorrow.

Lipo 6

2009-04-29T11:05:00.000-04:00

I started Lipo 6 (a fat burner) yesterday, april 28 2009 with the recommended starting dosage of 2 pills a day.

So far so good - I don't really feel any different (aside from a bit more antsy)

I will be updating this as I progress through the 8 week cycle and will also put in weigh-ins to show how my weight loss is going.

Last time I weighed myself I was about 156lbs (I'm 5'1" so blah). I'll weigh myself today when I'm at the gym to have a more concrete starting weight.

Tomorrow I start off with the 4 pill dosage.