7 Things Making Me Happy This Week

Images via Instagram @AnniesCtyKtchn

1.  The day that I can sleep in a glass bubble in the middle of the forest is the day I can die a happy woman.  These hotels to visit before you die are iinnssaannne.  And that underwater one?!  I'm dead now.  

2.  Get ready for me to blow your mind.  Andy's mom was Jesse's previous owner in Toy Story!  For real, it all adds up.  Do they ever miss a detail?  No, they do not.  

3.  This list about Chicago for out-of-towners is pretty spot on.  ESPECIALLY #1.  Navy Pier is kinda the worst.  And #4, we don't all sound like that.  Except sometimes we really do.  I think maybe my dad does jussttt a little sometimes.  

4.  What I'm about to tell you will be a true test of our friendship.  You will either completely agree or be totally disgusted and perhaps it's best we part ways.  But Taco Bell is making breakfast and I'M VERY EXCITED.  Exclamation points!  Yes, duh, it will be totally gross and it's not like I'm gonna swing by on a Tuesday morning for an AM Crunchwrap on my way to a meeting but a greasy Saturday morning breakfast?  Yep.  I'm all about it.  Are you with me?!  

5.  I recently discovered this blog and I think I've learned more about clean eating (Taco Bell breakfast notwithstanding), processed foods, sugar addiction and body image in the past few weeks than I have from any other source.  It's really eye-opening and it's certainly made me think twice before eating quite a bit lately.  I highly recommend getting lost in the archive of articles.  

6.  The hypocrisy of what I'm about to share is not lost me.  But now that we've talked about clean eating, I think I need to tell you about this new Ben and Jerry's innovation.  What took so long for someone to come up with this?  I almost never buy ice cream but when I do, I immediately pick out all the delicious bits and keep the rest in the freezer for 9 months.  But if I could have a perfect scoop every time, that would be bad news for my waistline.  

7.  Remember how I just blew your mind about Toy Story?  Well what if I told you that Harvard University was established before calculus was even invented?  Say what?!  AND that Galileo was alive during Harvard's early years!  My sense of time is very very wrong.  Before reading this list of 8 surprising history facts I would have estimated that Galileo lived in the 12th or 13th century or even earlier.  Very wrong.  Also, I think the concept that calculus was invented was lost on me.  I just kinda assumed it always existed.  How does one invent a type of math?!  And I wanna know who was reasonable for geometry because I have a bone to pick.  

So what's making you happy this week?

Wearable Drugstore Nudes

It may only be mid-February but I'm getting the springtime makeup itch.  I'm done with darker lips and smokey eyes.  Give me corals and pale pinks!  So I began digging around my makeup collection for some lip shades to lighten up my look.  

I don't think I'm quite ready to bust out some super bright lips but a wearable nude is right up my street.  I've struggled to find the right nude shades for my skin tone that don't make my lips fade into my face.  These drugstore shades are just the ticket.  

 Here are my favorite fool-proof, go-to shades:

Maybelline ColorSensationals in Totally Toffee
When swatched below, it reads quite brown but on the lips, it's the perfect neutral that still provides dimension.  A good matte nude-brown is perfect to pull together a look that requires minimal touchups and goes with almost any eye.  

NYX Butter Gloss in Tiramisu
A cult favorite, the NYX Butter Gloss formulas are near perfection.  Smooth and creamy, well pigmented and not the least bit drying.  Tiramisu has the slightest pink-ish hint which makes it easy to wear on it's own or layered over a different nude shade.  

Revlon ColorBurst Laquer Balm in Ingenue
The Revlon Colorburst Laquer Balms are quickly becoming one of my favorite lip formulas and Ingenue has been on my lips nearly every day this month.  It's the perfect "in-the-purse" shade with a slight orange undertone that provides just enough color to not be flat.  

Almay Color + Care Liquid Lip Balm in Nudetrients
Isn't that little gem just summer in a bottle?  Just looking at it makes me happy.  This gloss is a sheer wash of pinky-nude color with a glossy finish.  I love to wear this on its own on weekends or on top of a nude lipstick for extra oomph on weekdays.  

Maybelline Color Whisper in Mocha Muse
In addition to the creamy and smooth formula, Mocha Muse is a "no mirror" shade of nude.  I can swipe this on in 10 seconds on my way out the door for a wash of pinkish-brown.  This is certainly a "your lips but better" color that enhances your lip's color and gives a sophisticated nude.  

Please excuse my pale and goose-bumpy arm

L-R: Totally Toffee, Tiramisu, Ingenue, Nudetrients, Mocha Muse

So what are your favorite drugstore nudes?

"Salt on the Rim" Margarita Meringues

Well let me tell you a little story.  I come from work (might I add, I SLAVED over my desk all day long with nary a break or Facebook peruse), make myself a light dinner, catch the final minutes of Wheel of Fortune (did I mention I'm 90 years old?) and then I crack my knuckles and get to typing a blog post.  

Save Your Pennies: Covergirl Clump Crusher Extensions

Bummer huh?  I've heard so many good things about the Covergirl Clump Crusher mascara so when I saw an "Extensions" version, I thought surely it would be the benefits of Clump Crusher but with added length.  Admittedly, I've never tried the original Clump Crusher though friends and bloggers have raved about it.  For all I know, it could be fabulous!  

But Clump Crusher Extensions is not.   

I'll admit, it certainly lived up to the Clump Crusher title.  Zero clumps.  Couldn't make a clump if I tried.  However, it offered zero volume or length too.  It was almost as if I was using clear mascara.  It was just the sliiigghhtest bit wet and added an eensy touch of definition and that's about it.  

With most mascaras, I've noticed they get a bit more effective after being opened and drying out for about a day so I thought the same would be true here and I didn't dismiss it immediately.  Sadly, a few days didn't make much of a difference either.  For me, it just doesn't provide the oomph I need.  I like long, dark, thick lashes.  I want some punch!  This didn't provide it.  However, it you like a more natural look and don't want to fuss with dry clumping formulas, this might be perfect for you.  

All in all, I'd say you should save your pennies.  

What are your thoughts?  Have you tried Clump Crusher Extensions?     

6 Things Making Me Happy This Week.

Images via Instagram @AnniesCtyKtchn

1.  I love seeing things as other things!  i.e. Humans dressed as Disney characters.  Namely, celebrities.  I've seen some of these in magazines before but a few were new to me.  Though sometimes it seems like Annie Liebowitz's pictures are SO retouched that you could have just made the image from scratch on the computer, no?  Nonetheless, it's pretty on the eyes.  

2.  You cannot go wrong with Nutella if you tried.  Go ahead, give it a try.  But turn it into ice cream (a Jeni's recipe no less) and scoop it onto brioche rolls?  UM OK YES PLEASE.  

3.  It's official, Miss Piggy is a better dressed bride than me.  And I would expect nothing less.  Not gonna lie, Miss Piggy was a bit of a fashion icon for me growing up.  Weird?  Probably.  Also, Jem and The Nanny were big influences.  Certainly explains my affinity for huge hair.  

4.  !!!! This is amazing.  Best one is the Pringles guy, hands down.  

5.  I love a good TED Talk and this one on vulnerability was so enlightening.  It wasn't one I would have chosen on my own but I saw it recommended on Tumblr and I'm glad I watched.  Some great things to be shared.  

6.  Just discovered the author Rainbow Rowell last month and I'm already on my second book by her.  Fangirl was lovely and Eleanor and Park is so so good.  Next up is Attachments.  If you're into YA lit (which I very much unashamedly am), give Rainbow Rowell a try.  Her books are such a refreshing change of pace from the "usual" YA lit like Twilight (which I totally read, duh) or Divergent (also read, duh).    

So what's making you happy this week?

Baked Chili Fritos

Yes sir.  I made these.  And ate sooooooooooooo many.  Too many, you might say.  Well you're not the judge of me.  Who are you to say I ate too many?  Rude.

You're right though.  Because really, no one needs access to warm and spicy homemade corn chips at any time because only bad (good) things will happen.

Palette Lusting

I seem to have this issue where I finally get an eyeshadow palette that I would have given my left arm for, I use it daily for weeks, and then my eyes start to wander to new palettes.  And then I can't stop thinking about the new palettes and I must.have.them.  I have a roaming eye!  I'm cheating on my palettes!  Can you blame me though?  Look at those beauts above.  

Have you noticed a trend though?  Neutrals.  Nary a blue or vibrant shade in sight.  I am nothing if not predictable.  

Let's chat about my current obsessions.  

Nars Narsissist- At $79 this is the most expensive palette of the bunch and would far exceed what I've ever paid for a palette in the past.  But just look.  So pretty.  And at 15 shades, at least you're getting some major selection for your buck.  This palette has been all over every beauty blog I follow and it's only weakening my resolve not to buy it.  With a wedding on the horizon though, it's gonna take some major self-persuasion to actually bite the bullet.  

Marc Jacobs Lolita- It's the packaging guys.  It speaks to me.  It's so sleek and sophisticated.  And if I'm being honest, it's the first thing that caught my eye.  I just want to hold it in my hands.  I've actually considered buying this palette as my "Wedding" palette.  I'll be doing my own makeup and I'd love to buy a few luxury items that I normally wouldn't purchase.  Plus, it has the perfect shade selection for the type of look I'm planning.  

TheBalm Meet Matt(e) Nude- This one may seem like a snooze without shimmers but it's just up my alley.  Whenever I wear a bolder liquid liner, I almost always pair it with matte shadows.  While a few of my palette have some great selections, they're certainly more shimmer-heavy.  This palette is one I could see myself using on a daily basis.  

Smashbox Full Exposure- Smashbox is a bit of a dark horse for me because it's a brand I rarely see mentioned in blogs and it's a brand that I don't personally purchase (like, ever).  However, I've seen this palette mentioned a few times on blogs and even mentioned in a Pixiwoo tutorial recently and it got me intrigued.  It seems like a slightly more affordable version of the Nars palette, albeit slightly different.  

So what palettes are you lusting after these days?

5 Things Making Me Happy This Week

Images via Instagram @AnniesCtyKtchn

1.  Admittedly this is a touch weird but such a funny and unique concept.  I think I like the Hungry Catepillar best only because it's the weirdest.  And it reminds me of learning the anatomy of a worm in school.  Or did I make that up?

2.  This post on finding inspiration was.... inspiring.  Mission accomplished.  When I finished reading it I just felt energized and full of ideas.  I think my biggest struggle isn't so much inspiration but staying motivated which, to me, go hand in hand.  But I think journaling or creating an inspiration board can really keep me on track.  

3.  This post on meal prep is nutso.  I think prepping like this can make such a difference and I do a scaled down version of this every week.  It's probably the only way I can manage to eat mildly healthfully throughout the week.  

4.  Bookmark this one!  Tips for blog photography, yes please!  I'm always looking to expand my skillz because now I'm determined to get a damn picture on Food Gawker if it kills me.  It's not like my self-worth depends on it or something.  (It does).  

5.  Cookie Dough Oreos yyeessssssssss!  Creating an egg-less cookie dough is an invitation for me to just eat it straight from the bowl in place of breakfast, lunch and dinner.  

So what's making you happy this week?

Blueberry Soda Bread

This bread is my everything now.  I know I joke and say I could eat the whole loaf but guys?  I actually ate, like, 80% of this loaf on my own.  Really and truly.  It is perfection.

Can you just look at the height of that loaf in the picture below?  Unreal.  Like a painting.  I'm an artiste and my canvas is a loaf pan and my easel is flour and butter and blueberries and my smock is an apron and my paintbrush is a whisk and my frame is an oven?  Or would the loaf be the frame?  And the easel would be a bowl?  I really lost my way halfway through that metaphor.

January Beauty Favorites

Yay!  Monthly favorites!  I continue to be amazed by the passage of time because I can't believe it's February already!  Also, my wedding is in 3 months.  WHAT.  Freaking out.  

Ok let's get at it: