Monday, July 28, 2014

#MCM

In the world of social media, today is #mcm (otherwise known as "Man Crush Monday").  I try to avoid posting pictures of my #mcm in order to avoid being sappy and cliche, but today, I couldn't help myself.  And for some reason, I want to extend my overly mushy love on my blog.  But it's my blog, and I can do whatever I want.

You're my best friend, but you're more than that.  You're my best friend, partner in crime and court-appointed friend (inside joke!).  You make me laugh until I cry or almost pee my pants.  You laugh at me when I deserve it, you encourage me through all of my crazy endeavors and you're my number one fan through it all.  You support me in everything I do - trying to lose weight, signing up for a Tough Mudder, switching jobs and finding my passion.  You push me to be better, even when I don't appreciate it.  You cuddle with me even when you'd rather lay alone, you let me be the big spoon sometimes and you always tell me I look beautiful in the morning.  You're honest in a way that no one else is.  I don't always like to hear it, but just know that I appreciate it.  You're the cheese to my macaroni, the peanut butter to my jelly (in an uncrustable), the Crown to my coke.  You're the icing on my cupcake, the chocolate chips in my cookie and you make everything in life so much better.  You don't complete me - you complement me.  You make me better.  You're everything I'm not and everything I aspire to be.  Baby, you're my better half.  You're the love of my life, and I'd be so lost without you.  Thanks for a truly incredible two and a half years.

I love you, Alex.  You're my #mcm, today and forever.

Saturday, July 12, 2014

June 2014 Beauty Favorites

Let me start out by saying this: I'm not a makeup artist.  Or a beauty blogger.  But I do love beauty products, and I'm sure there are many of you out there who feel the same.  Lately, I've been trying out tons of new beauty products, and I figured it may be fun to add beauty favorites to my blog every month.  Some of these products were suggestions from beauty bloggers on YouTube, and others are products I heard a lot about and wanted to try.  Each month, I'll feature 5-7 products from the previous month that I loved, and I'll include pictures, links and all that fun stuff.  So here we go!

Urban Decay Naked Palette ($54 at Sephora)
I bought this palette a year ago, and it was my first real high-end beauty brand purchase. At the time, I had only been buying drugstore brand products, so this was a whole new world for me.  Over time, I developed a huge love for this product, and I used it like crazy last month.  Some of my favorites are virgin, sin, sidecar and toasted.  These eyeshadows are so pigmented and easy to blend, and they go on so smooth. If you're looking for a new palette to buy, I'd definitely recommend it!

Maybelline Pumped Up Colossal Mascara ($7.99 at Ulta)
Jaclyn Hill, my absolute favorite beauty blogger on YouTube, mentioned this product in a couple of her videos, and I trusted her opinion enough to try it out.  I've been using Maybelline Falsies mascara for YEARS, and I was super reluctant to try a new mascara.  I'm glad I did because this one is amazing!  It really adds volume a
nd length to my lashes.  It doesn't clump, and it's easy to add on more layers.  The wand makes it so easy to get every lash, including those stubborn bottom lashes.  Yeah, this stuff rocks.

Maybelline Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer ($8.99 at Ulta)
Another recommendation from Jaclyn Hill!  I've been using the Maybelline fit me concealer for about a year, and I was so in love I thought I'd never try anything else.  I decided to pick this one up in a shade lighter than my skin tone so I could use it as a highlighter.  What a great decision!  The weird ball sponge at the top can be annoying at times since I don't always feel like enough product comes out.  But after a little bit of patience (and twisting), I always get it to work.  I don't really have under eye circles, so I can't say if it works well for that.  I do use it as an eye primer sometimes, and I will say that it works really well.  This is definitely a great drugstore concealer!

Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray ($30 at Sephora for the 4oz. bottle)
Are you noticing a trend here?  I obviously love Maybelline and Urban Decay!  At first, I was hesitant to spend $30 on a makeup setting spray, but living in Florida, I figured it was a necessity.  Holy moly this product is incredible!  I mist it on my face after I've applied all of my makeup, and even in the Florida heat, my makeup lasts all day and doesn't move.  This has just become a staple in my makeup collection.

Revlon Colorstay Foundation for Combination/Oily Skin ($12.99 at Ulta)
I have oily skin, and living in Florida doesn't make it any better.  I usually don't wear liquid foundation because of this since everything just seems to crease or melt off my skin.  I bought this foundation back in April, and I recently bought another bottle in a darker shade.  Paired with a primer and setting powder, this foundation doesn't budge on me!  I also use Urban Decay's makeup setting spray afterwards to give it some extra hold.  I usually apply it with a Real Techniques sponge (a dupe for the Beauty Blender) or a Sigma F80 brush.  I love that the coverage is buildable, so I can have as little or as much coverage as I'd like.

What products did you try last month that you absolutely loved?  I'm always looking for new products, so if you have any suggestions, let me know!