A Very Baby Weekend

May 21, 20151 Comment

I keep tryin’ to think of a funny opener, but all I can do RN is hum Destiny’s Child.

Can you keep up? BABY BOY, make me lose my breath!

Sorry.

Last weekend, my sister Meg and mother Nan came to visit me. Megan is about 23 weeks preg and it was HIGH-TIME she make the trip to Portland to look for baby items in a tax-free environment.

They arrived Friday night and after my jaw dropped to the floor when I saw little Meg’s little belly, I decided it was a good idea to go ahead and have 2 LARGE glasses of vino and 3/4 of a box of Milk Duds. A grilled cheese may have made it in there too, it’s all a blur when I’m around these two.

The next day we woke up and hit NW 23rd because it’s cute and fun. We stopped immediately at Bagel Works where I ordered a plain bagel with plain cream cheese. It was definitely sub-par and not a place I would frequent. Give me a chewy, dense bagel or give me death.

We shopped around the area and I struck up a wonderful conversation at Blush Beauty Bar with a fellow customer who didn’t think she could pull off a bronzed eyeshadow. She had olive skin and gorgeous flicked liner and I was like, “GIRL LISTEN”. The ladies who worked there were kinda laughing but letsbereal, they probs hated me.

Then another gal couldn’t find a Nars lipstick in the shade Kelly, which is OBVIOUSLY from the Audacious line. When the salesperson didn’t know anything about it, I happily interjected and was all, “Excuse me? Yes, that shade is from the Audacious line, which is AMAAAZING and you should definitely get it.”

Sister Natalie, they should call me. Patron Saint of meekups.

Anyways, we got gas and I ran in for a fountain soda because it’s tradish.

Then we went to Washington Square and I wore my Tory Burch flats which was a terrible decision. We found some adorable baby clothes for Lil’ Toby Johnson (as we are referring to him) and I was able to sneak away at H&M and procure a tiny quilted sweatshirt with the words “Hello Little One” embroidered in.

Megan also found an amazing diaper bag at Nordstrom and I kindof want it for a normal purse. Is that weird?

I also coveted the following shoes:

We tried to go to the ~~Glutton~~ Cheesecake Factory for lunch but it was packed to the brim with hungry, sad-looking mall-goers who were willing to wait the hour + for a sh*tty piece of thawed-out Cheesecake.

Being the smart ladies we are, decided to succumb to Chipotle. For obvious reasons. ~~Chips~~.

After that we stopped at the Brideport shopping area where I very nearly purchased this perfume at Anthropologie for $55 because it smells like a fairy princess.

That night, the Nan and my sis crashed early because one is old and one is pregnant. I met some co-workers for karaoke and performed not one but TWO songs. One of them may or may not have been from Frozen…

The next day we got up and decided to go to Nordstrom Rack. I found a few random Alex and Ani bracelets and Nan ended up buying me one. What a gal!

Kinda cool and art-deco-ish?

I always get sad after anyone in my family leaves so Sunday night was spent in the bath, Stanley Hudson style.

All in all, a wonderful, baby-tastic weekend.

August Favorites

September 5, 20142 Comments

Yes I am late to be posting my monthly faves. So sorry little bunnies!

Makeup

L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara

I got the one in the gold tube a couple months ago and for the last month it has been performing like a dream. A few pumps on the ol’ curler and one or two coats makes for gorgeous, fluttery, full lashes. I have to make sure to really start at the base and wiggle my way up with this formula, but it is worth every effort.

Elf Long Lasting Lustrous Eyeshadow in Soiree

These $3 pots of wonder are a new discovery for me after watching Melissa on YouTube. The product is bouncy and kind of a dense gel consistency. I apply it with my ring finger and smudge it out with other colors using a tapered crease brush. I found that it did not crease on me or move at all. I have pretty normal eyelids if that helps (not overly oily).

NYX Butter Gloss in Éclair

I love ALL the NYX Butter Glosses and one of my faves has to be Éclair. It is a beautiful, pastel baby pink (signature color) and is perfect on it’s own or paired with a lipstick.

Hair

Oscar Blandi Dry Heat Protect Spray

I got the in my Summer 2014 Allure Beauty Box and was unsure of how I’d like it. Well, I am here to report that I love it. I really do. I don’t know about you, but one of my pet peeves is when I spray on a big juicy dose of heat protectant on my hair and then it’s just, wet. Then I feel pressured to wait for it to dry before I clamp 450 degrees of straight heat on to it. With this product, there is no pressure and ZERO waiting time, because it’s like, dry. It is sheer genius, I tell you.

My New Blow dryer! The Conair Inifinti Pro Blow Dryer

You guys. For seriously two years I was using THE WORLD’S MOST GHETTO blow dryer on the planet. I plucked it from the bottom clearance shelf at T.J Maxx and ended up paying the consequence until recently. I actually REGISTERED for this new Conair blow dryer at Target but alas, nobody chose this OR the lighted makeup mirror (SO rude). Since I purchased this over 3 weeks ago, my life is just, better. My hair dries faster and the color is beautiful. It is everything.

Random

Alex and Ani Bracelets

I found these two at The Rack and happily forked over the $14.97 for each. Here we have one initial bangle in the letter “N” and one “Capricorn” bangle even though I don’t believe one iota of that horoscope stuff.

Minute Maid Drops

Drinking water has never been super easy for me. I don’t get the people who are all, “water is so good!” Like, no. It’s not. Diet Coke is good. A lemon drop is good. Thankfully all the juice brands have come out with “water enhancement” products which help us water-haters cope. The ones by Minute Maid are pretty delish!

That’s all for now! Happy September!!

Currently Coveting

August 11, 2014August 11, 20141 Comment

Materialism at it’s worst, guys. I KNOW. But just indulge me 🙂

The list below is compiled of things I have taken a hard liking to over the past couple of months. It’s a bit longer than normal because I haven’t bought anything lately due to lack of job, trips to Potbelly and a teensy dent I put in the Jeep. Oopsa’ daisies!

Mac Blushes!!

I went to the Mac on NW 23rd here in Portland and had a swatchfest. I had ’em all up and down my arm like a lunatic and determined these shades MUST be mine.

Petal Power Mineralized Blush $27

Check out the new Mac mineralized packaging! I saw Sam Schuerman talk about the beauty of this blush and HAD to see for myself. I am currently REALLY digging blushes that can basically double as highlights, much like my current favorite blush which is Luminoso by Milani. This shade is an absolutely gorgeous pink with goldy undertones. Mamma want.

Sunbasque Powder Blush $22

Photo Cred

Sunbasque is a color I have heard tons about and I finally experienced it’s radiant splendor. It is definitely more of a mauvy, bronzed color with that shimmer I have grown obsessed with.

Margin Powder Blush $22

Photo Cred

To me, margin might be the perfect summer blush of all time. It is rose gold (reminiscent of Benefit’s boxed blush in Rockateur) but MUCH more glowy. It has brownish peach undertones and would PERF with my skin tone right now or with a slammin self tan.

Springsheen Powder Blush $22

Photo Cred

Springsheen. Oh, springsheen. How lovely and coral and perfect and luminous you are. Do you guys see why I need all these blushes? They are all SO me and wonderfully life-changing.

Other Stuff

Benefit Push Up Liner $24

I have never been a fan of gel liners. Back in the good ol’ days, I had Mac’s blacktrack and it completely dried out on me after like 8 months and I was PISSED. I have tried other drugstore brands since then and they’re okay but I always find myself migrating back to my liquids or pencils because it’s just too much work to lug out the pot AND the brush (not lazy at all, here). But then Benefit released this and my distaste for gel liner has been thoughtfully redacted. No need for a brush! No dried-up product! I need this in my life.

Josie Maran Whipped Argan Body Butter $48

$48 body lotion necessitates a lengthy explanation, so allow me to deconstruct…

Alright gals. Body lotion 101 is in session. You all know I struggle with a couple of agonizing skin disorders. One being my keratosis pilaris otherwise known as chicken skin or those tiny bumps we sometimes get on the backs of our arms and legs. The other being my acute paleness. NOW. Ingredients such as glycerin and mineral oil upset the chicken skin, as the ingredients are not good for the root cause of these bumps – a hard build-up of keratin which plugs up the hair follicle.

Additionally, ingredients such as alcohol and mineral oil actually STRIP the color off of a self-tanned body. Which is NO BUENO.

So, in congruence with these obstacles – I have been on the hunt for skin lotions and butters devoid of these ingredients. And lemmetellya, there aren’t many. Organic or natural brands may not contain alcohol but then they mostly ALL have glycerin and mineral oil.

My discovery is this – Josie Maran body butter. It is free of alcohol, mineral oil and has only a small amount of “natural vegetable glycerin”.

PRAISE THE LORD allelujah! I will happily fork over this ungodly sum for a bit of skin relief – oh yes, I will.

Alex and Ani Bracelets $28 (approx.)

Let me explain. I have always wanted a charm bracelet. However, I am just not a fan of the Pandora line or the tradition charm bracelets that get all bulky. These bangles from Alex and Ani I find to be quite cute as you can stack them up and wear a bunch at a time. They come in all different styles and metals and I want a million of them.

Maybelline Hip Eyeshadow Duo in Electrified $5

Photo Cred

Kristin Gehm mentioned this duo on one of her recent videos and I need it. Unfortunately it is not available anywhere! If anyone finds this line of eyeshadows anywhere please let me know!

TIGI Bedhead Oh Bee Hive! Dry Shampoo $20

My sister’s GF Shannon used this on me when she did my hair for our wedding and I am IN LOVE. It smells amazing and I found the result to be smooth and natural. I usually opt for drugstore dry shampoos but this might just make me a convert.

Benefit Maybe Baby Perfume $32

This perfume is everything to me. It has the same scent as my beloved Bathina Oil Mist from Benefit. An ultra-feminine, sweet, floral scent that makes feel like the ballerina I wish I were.

And that’s it! What have YOU been coveting??