Girls Weekend in Yakima #lifechoices

May 13, 2016May 13, 2016Leave a comment

Or Yaki-Vegas. Or “The Palm Springs of Washington”.

This year, the brainy one (Bekah) suggested we all rendezvous in Yakima, due to it’s even proximity to our respective homes. Carey and Holly come from Spokane, Bekah, from Seattle and yours truly from Portland. What a smart gal she is.

I arrived on Friday afternoon after a super disorienting 3-hour drive. I pulled over after 50 minutes at a Chevron to lean my seat back and take a much-needed, open mouthed power nap. I set my alarm for 15 minutes, gulped the last of my sh*tty gas station coffee and fell right asleep. My alarm must have ~~not worked because I set it for the next day~~ malfunctioned because i woke up what I surmise was an hour later, sweaty and with cotton mouth. Friday night we had a bunch of wine, crackers, cheese and sassafras ala Holly Coleman Erickson.

Anyweez Saturday we all woke up and did our usual go-around-the-circle-and-fill-eachother-in-on-life-updates. We’re all in such fun, awful, amazing, hard and unexpected phases of life. We have kids, marriages, divorce, careers, broken hearts, insecurities, and make all kinds of #lifechoices everyday. And while we’re on the topic…

Can we ALL get off ALL our high-horses for a sec and just accept one another? Nobody’s #lifechoices are any better than anyone elses. They just ARE. Chicks (dudes too, I guess. but girls are def worse) have a tendency to compare, judge and then feel this impulsive need to justify. To this I say, “keep it cool my baby”. GOD KNOWS I have made some questionable decisions in my life. I am 32 years old – not married and have no viable spawn. Haha spawn. But like, it’s all ok. Do like the bumper sticker says and Coexist! Speaking of bumper stickers, where did the “My kid beat up your honor student” one go? That got me errrr time. Oh right – bullying. And cyber-bullying. That’s where. Well anyways, it always gave me a little chuckle ;).

So we talked about our #lifechoices, patted eachother on the backs and reassured one another that we’re all doing okay. And THAT, is what friends are for. Well that, and having people that still love you after you admit that despite your best efforts, Monte Carlo (starring Selena Gomez ) is STILL one of your favorite movies.

So then, Megan, my Mom and Tate came over to play!

OMG lashes (on Tate, not me)

We went to lunch at Creekside where I had a vodka + lemonade that was SO refreshing.

Tate’s face tho

After lunch, my fam hit the road back to the Tri and us gals decided to do a little wine tasting in downtown Yakima. Holly and I did our usual on the way to the tasting rooms:

It was also Cinco de Mayo, so basically, we were four white girls in our dusted-off wedges and H&M best, tromping around while polka music played, trying to find a classy-ass tasting room. We did! And the tasting room lady became our BFF and I laughed so hard that wine very nearly came out my nose.

At the next tasting room, we ordered bacon-wrapped figs while we contemplated getting best friends tattoos. I still can’t bring myself to do it and suggested matching necklaces. My idea was met with disapproving faces, so I might have to succumb and get a little anchor on the bottom of my foot (which the only possible place I would ever get a tattoo).

We had dinner at the happenin’ spot in Yakima, a place called Cowiche and it was PROM so we of course reminisced our own school dances. I contributed the memory of wearing BROWN nylons to homecoming make my legs look tan and the shoes I spray-painted to match my dress the night before STUCK to my nylons and I couldn’t take my shoes off so I was the girl that had her shoes on the whole night. I also had red, curling ribbon in my hair. *DROPS THE MIC

Dinner was delicious but the cupcakes we had back at the house were better. We literally inhaled them, tried desperately to stay up later and have another glass of wine but we all ended up pouring it back in the bottle in favor of puttin’ on our cold cream and hobbling into bed with our old lady bodies.

I left early the next day with a heavy heart. IF ONLY THESE GIRLS COULD LIVE IN PORTLAND.

My life would be complete ♥

Wet’n’Wild Lost in the Wildflowers 2016 Collection

May 11, 20161 Comment

Goooooood morning my loves!

This post will involve a bit of a story time on how I procured the items mentioned, as well as my initial thoughts. So let’s get this party started.

Over the past month, I had seen the odd post here or there with these new Wet’n’Wild highlighters and I really thought nothing of it. I thought I would see them pop up at Fred Meyer or Walgreens, much like the new contour palettes and eyeliners they added to the collection. Then I started reading comments and realized that people were going NUTS over these highlighters and that there was a whole limited edition collection accompanying them. And then I got voracious.

Sister Megan was also on the hunt for this collection and had already been every Walgreens and Fred Meyer store in her area, so I figured I should do the same. I called a few of the Walgreens stores and was not surprisingly answered with much confusion — “You’re looking for what? Well we got Maybelline here.” YEAH. NO.

I decided it prudent to just drive around to all the Walgreens stores and berate the employees until they literally just let me into the stock room myself. The first one proved unfruitful after a helpful young woman assured me there were no Wet’n’Wild boxes in the back and their trucks usually came on Fridays. Next, I hit another Walgreens and Fred Meyer and left empty-handed and discouraged. I decided to try one more Walgreens on my way home (one that I had already called) just to see if maybe they missed it.

I went in and the hot pink haired gal told me she did see a Wet’n’Wild box in the back and that she would go get it for me. I was elated and totally surprised that my relentlessness had paid off! I shot a quick text to Megan and waited patiently for my goodies. But then, something caught my eye. A small glimmer from the bottom of a lowly shelf…Like a tractor beam, I was drawn in and delighted to discover the very collection I was looking so hard for COMPLETELY UNTOUCHED.

I dove in and immediately starting picking up the products and audibly squealing. I called Megan and she joined in. I scooped the ENTIRE display (well not quite, but almost) into a basket and headed to the register where I had to remind the gal that Wet’n’Wild was in fact, BOGO 50% off. I ended up waltzing outta there $30 poorer but rich in loveliness. I had also taken care of Meg’s mothers day present so WIN-WIN!

Here was the final haul:

I kept the following products:

Megaglo Multi-Stick in Carnational Anthem

I also got the color Light Up My High-Biscus, but I allllready can’t find it. But here is a picture of it I pilfered from ebay:

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Megaglo Highlighting Powders in Crown of my Canopy and Precious Petals

Here I am waiting for the train wearing Precious Petals: #thathighlighttho

Coloricon Metallic Liquid Lipstick in My Tulips are Sealed

Overall I am VERY happy with this collection. All the colors I got are SO ME – peachy and shimmery. They did bring out some deeper, bolder liquid lipsticks but those shades just aren’t m’thang. I am loving the highlighters and can’t wait to slap on the deeper color (Crown of my Canopy) when I have more of a tan.

If you can get yer paws on these babies – DO IT.

My Favorite YouTube Channels

May 4, 2016Leave a comment

My obsession with YouTube rivals that of a pre-pubescent teenager, who is addicted to gaming, Game of Thrones and of course, quesoritos from T.Bell.

It all began with Jenna Marbles. She’s hilar, her dogs are cute and the topics were relevant. I then delved into the world of beauty gurus and explored a world of Miss Glamorazzi, The Fowler Sisters and of course MacBarbie07 or Bethany Mota as she’s more famously known as now.

Then I moved into the Gleam Team – or the Brits. Zoella, Louise, Marcus, Tanya and the gang stole my hearts with their cute accents and ability to always seem like they were in a commercial.

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I discovered one of my all-time favorite YouTubers, Az4Angela through her (now famous) Bath & Body Works Rant video BEFORE it went viral. She does candle reviews, wears mumus, is hilarious and lives in Wisconsin with her shitzu Snookie.

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I loved all the challenge videos with Joey Graceffa and Tyler Oakley, and got my Miranda Sings accent down Pat.

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I watched every YDAD with Mamrie Hart and collab with her BFFs Hannah Hart and Grace Helbig (both hilarious in their own right). And allllmost bought a Camp Lakota tee-shirt.

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Then it was the lifestyle bloggers like Louis that made me want to travel the world. After that, the daily family bloggers like The Saccone-Jolys, The Schuerman Show and of course the Shaytards that had me jonesing for a white picket fence and the pattering of little feet.

I’ve gone through some weird phases too and watched some weird channels, like Clawstruck, a channel solely devoted to those claw machines outside of Wal-Mart. Or extreme eating channels, where people attempt to shove 10,000 calories down their throat in one day.

Today, I mostly stick to the beauty videos but sway toward the more mature ones, like Emily Noel, Kristin Gehm, Kandee Johnson, PixiWoo, Jeffree Star and TiffanyD. However, I am also a HUGE fan of Jaclyn Hill, Casey Holmes and Ciaoobelllaxo.

Most recently, I find myself obsessed with dumpster diving YouTubers, especially these two girls who totally remind me of me and my best friends in high school (shout-out to Lacey and Nicole!). I am also a DIE HARD fishie, ala Trisha Paytas and cannot seem to get enough of her daily vlogs, obsession with Rick Moranis and OF COURSE her intense shopping addiction.

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That pretty much brings us up to date guys. Thanks for reading and if you have any YouTubers you think I’d like – let me know in the comments below!

Benefit Cheekathon Palette Review

April 27, 20162 Comments

Hello lemonheads!

When something is too good of a deal, I have a hard time passing it up. I once almost bought dog food because it was on such a big clearance and I DON’T EVEN HAVE A DOG. The struggle is so very real, my friends. So when this palette came out, I knew she had to be mine. I first happened upon it at the Benefit Counter as Macy’s where the salesperson assured me it would exclusively only be sold. LIES. Not a week later, I saw it pop up at my lunchtime Sephora and so I grabbed myself one. (i say lunchtime Sephora because I go there on my lunch break about 3x per week. the sales people know not to talk to me anymore. i blast Drake in my headphones, shimmy around and leave a veritable swatch monster).

FEAST YOUR EYES KITTENS…

5. Count them – 5 full-sized blushes for $58. Not a bad deal when you consider that each of these pups are $29 each. I have wanted Rockateur and Coralista for a long time, but after wearing this a couple of times I am LIVING for Dandelion. Go fig.

I really tried to make these swatches look like the beauty gurus do but alas, my transparent hands with bulbous veins would not allow it. Thus, we are left with sub-par, weak swatches and for that, dear readers, I apologize. I guess we all have to take what we can get.

L’Oreal Volume Filler Skincare Review

April 25, 20163 Comments

Hey lovelies!

Once again, Influenster sent me another voxbox! This time, it was for the L’Oreal Revitalift Volume Filler Skincare line.

Inside this box, were four products:

(Can you tell I take really great product images ON MY COUCH?)

I was beyond thrilled to receive full sizes of these products! So often with skincare samples, a tiny packet containing a few measly drops of product is hardly enough to warrant a thorough review, much less a firm opinion. And while have only been using these products for a couple weeks now, I feel like like I can give a pretty good review because I have been generously smothering them all over my face and neck!

Here we have the:

Night Cream

This comes in a squeeze tube, which I very much appreciate. It does have a smell to it, if that bothers you, although it is a pleasant one. The consistency is on the thicker side, but it is not anywhere near as rich as my beloved First Aid Beauty Hydra-Firm Sleeping Cream. It provides a pretty instant smooth feeling on the skin, which I do tend to question (silicone?) but overall it is very nice.

Volume Moisturizer

I love the packaging of this cute little tub. It has the same smell as the night cream, but is a thicker consistency. I have been wearing this stuff during the day and so far, it has the same smoothing effect and is great under makeup.

Serum

Being a serum fan in general, I knew it would take something pretty awful to make me garner any ill feelings toward this stuff. It is pretty much a straightforward serum. I like to rub it between the tips of my fingers to warm it up and then press it into the skin. It seems to sink in pretty well and does have a nice volumizing effect.

Eye Treatment

I need to give this stuff a bit more time to provide an in-depth review, but so far I do like it. I have been using up some eye cream I bought at Sephora a while back so I’ll start working this one more into my routine in the near future.

OVERALL:

I realllllllllly like Hyaluronic acid. Like, alot. I have known about it for years and did purchase a Korean Hyalurnonic treatment a few months ago which I also really liked. From what I have read, it is a natural acid that the body produces, but as we age, it produces less. I do feel like it contributes to the “voluminous” effect these products claim to provide. I like to think that it makes ‘me skin a bit more plumpy (yes, plumpy) and hydrated looking. I would recommend this line to anyone with more mature skin, especially if you have those fine wrinkles that would benefit from a bit of plump!

If you have tried any of these products, leave a comment and let me know what you think!

Currently Coveting: Spring Edition

April 15, 2016Leave a comment

It’s that time of year again!

That magical time, when warmer weather begs for BB creams, bronzed lotions and oh yeah, I guess flowers bloom too. When I think of spring and summer, I think of poppy-colored lips, coppery shoulder blades and bright pink nails. Vacations to to the lake, Bud Light Limes and sundresses come in at a close second.

As I gear myself up for the warmer weather, I cannot help but covet each and every product that appeals to the California-girl in me. The following are at the top of my list!

SOLEIL TAN DE CHANEL

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I have wanted this cream-gel bronzer FOREVER. My sister bought it for her wedding and I use it err’ time I am at her house. It’s just lovely on pale skin and SO natural looking. Not gonna lie either, I would appreciate having this bougie-ness gracing the top of my vanity.

TARTE TWINKLE PALETTE

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I have about 1,000 beautiful highlighting powders already but dammit – I want this one too! I put it on at Sephora about a week ago and then FaceTimed with my sister and she was like “WHAT IS ON YOUR CHEEKBONES!?” So basically, I need it.

Josie Maran Whipped Body Butter

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I have talked about my chicken skin on more than one occasion here guys. I have always wanted to try this body butter because it doesn’t contain certain ingredients that tend to irritate my skin. It might be time to bite the bullet and shell out the $35 for this stuff.

Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Rose

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I am embarrassed to admit that I want a product from Juicy Couture. I sent the good ol’ hot pink velour sweat-suit to Goodwill a few years ago and thought I had bid adieu to this brand for realsies. But then, I saw this sparkling, ROSE-scented (my favorite scent everrrr) bottle of majesty and realize I NEED.

Fake Bake 60-Minute Self Tan Liquid

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I have the original formula of this stuff and really enjoy how easy it goes on. I want to try out the 60-minute version because, hello! It is ready to go in one hour? Yes please!

Gilmore Girls Tee Shirt

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Not a beauty item, I know but I NEED THIS. I am contemplating ordering it now because not owning a Gilmore Girls shirt is something I simply cannot live without. I may also get a Luke’s Diner ball cap to wear backwards.

Happenings + The Poop Lady

April 11, 20161 Comment

Hello my cherry blossoms!

If my life has been one thing lately, it has been random. I find myself in the most peculiar of situations and pretty much every time, I am the sole witness.It has also gotten hot in hurr and the warm weather literally makes me giddy. Allow me to elaborate…

My bestie Holly came to visit!

Except is rainy AF when she came and we basically ran from my apartment to the car to restaurants all weekend. We shared many a chuckle, drank some whiskey and a’course had some heart-to-hearts ala Felicity (our shared favorite show).

Sunny days! Sweepin’ the ~~clouds~~ frowns away! (aint it true)

Lately my sunroof has been open and sunglasses have been ON! I also recently purchased the Buxom lipgloss in White Russian because I NEEDED IT and now all I need is hefty spray tan.

White Russian on the lips

BABY TATE

I tell my sister often, “You are lucky you have a cute baby because if you didn’t, we would all have to put up with an ugly one and we would still love it the same but like, not reallllly the same, even tho ugly babies do have a special place in my heart.” Tate is gerber-baby cute. Michelle Tanner cute. I WANT TO EAT HIS FACE.

And, yes. I FaceTime him about 5 times a day. Megan answers me maybe once or twice a week. I get it – new mom + bad sleeper = Auntie Natalie (or Natawee, as Megan says) doesn’t get her preferred amount of time, but I WILL NOT GIVE UP.

Oh! And I got flowers!! They are the most gorgeous flowers ever and if I win the lottery, I am having fresh flowers delivered err’ week. I am also buying the Schick Intuition Razor and a million cartradiges. And definitely 4,000 bath bombs from Lush.

Now lets talk about the POOP LADY.

In my building, each floor has it’s own mens and womens bathrooms. They require a key so the downtown hooligans can’t inject drugs in our bathrooms. My office is on the third floor and the first floor bathrooms are being renovated. There is a small specialty clinic of some kind on the first floor, and I assume some of the staff use the various other bathrooms in the building.

WELL.

Lucky for us, an avid pooper has graced the 3rd floor bathroom with her presence. The P.L is swift. She is elusive. Like a ninja, she flies up the stairs of our building and methodically poops in the handicap stall of our bathroom.

I have had but 3 run-ins with the P.L and all have been brief, awkward and totally unexpected.

Run in No.1: Sometimes in the mornings I do my mascara when I get to the office. One such morning, I casually entered the seemingly empty women’s room and whipped out my curler, mascara and began applying. About 3 minutes into the application (I take AWHILE on my mascara) I hear a slight sniffle. This was after three WHOLE minutes. The Poop Lady had been in there three entire minutes, sitting on the can, just waiting for me to leave. I hastened my application and was finishing up one minute later when I heard the next sound – a slight foot movement. I washed my hands, and sprinted out of there. 4 minutes later, I saw her go by and catch the elevator down. She was probs in there for like 20 minutes, obviously poopin’.

Run in No.2: The next time, I was headed down the hall to the bathroom, when I saw her turn the corner to the stairs SO QUICK (like a ninja) like she didn’t want me to see her leave. I entered the bathroom, and had not even let the door close behind me when she came running back into the bathroom. Long, droopy bangs curled, she quickly exclaimed “I can’t remember if I flushed!”. And because I am THE most awkward person I replied, “Yeah, that will happen!”. She checked the handicap stall and shouted “Oh ok, I did!” and left the bathroom. She did however, leave behind a putrid poop-smell. WTF Poop Lady? Wtf.

Run in No.3: Probably the worst. Poop Lady leaves the bathroom and I offer a nice, office-friendly smile. The handicap stall door was still swingin when I got inside, and I peered in…yes. P.L left a bit of her treasure behind. Ohhhh, Poop Lady. You, you, you.

The thing is, I don’t hate her. I don’t even dislike her. I just don’t know her, and I guess I feel I need to know someone who so confidently poops in such close proximity to me. Anyways, I’ll keep the blog updated with P.L and all her shenanigans. Promise.