Looking Back on my 2012 via Photos

As 2012 comes to a close within these next few hours, I wanted to take some time to reflect on the good that came out of this taboo year. Taboo I say because here in the United States, where I live, the world was supposed to end twice according to various theories! If you are reading this, I think it's safe to say it indeed did not end, in fact it did quite the opposite for me.  2012 was filled with so many great memories, baby showers, births, weddings, engagements, friends, family, even some not so good things like friends breakups, family health issues, natural disasters, violent tragedies and so on. It is safe to say that 2012 had so much in store--things that would make us cry, love, laugh and most importantly remember who we are and why we are exactly where we are in our lives at this moment.

Here are some of the things that I remember in 2012 that were positive in my life:

1. Boyfriends sister had a wonderful baby shower and gave birth to an amazing little boy, RJ.
2. Went to see Jersey Boys on Broadway for Valentines Day--I LOVE oldies so this was perfect gift ;)
3. My Boyfriend graduated his work training! Boy that was a rough 6 months :(
4. Went to Puerto Rico with two of my very best friends and my honey.
5. Met Kandee Johnson at IMATS
6. Cut down Christmas Tree with my boyfriend to keep our tradition alive :)
7. Hiked through the Bushkill Falls with my best friend as we took a mental voyage with nature lol
8. Kayaked 6 miles and had my arms feel like they were on fire because of it hahaha
9. Reunited with my Portuguese grandparents after almost 10 years of not seeing them!
10. Finished my first semester back at school with a 3.9 GPA! yay!
11. Made my first fondant cake ever for my friends birthday!
12. Went to the Philadelphia Zoo with the mister and although I've been going here my whole life, this time was extra special for some reason :)
13. Went to over 5 NHL Hockey Playoff games--This was my first time ever getting into hockey!
14. Threw my boyfriend a surprise 25th birthday party successfully :)
15. Saw my sister and my cousin off to two different proms--they're getting so old--wahhh!

There were many other firsts and celebrations and new things that came to me this year, but if I were to take the time to share every single one, I would be here forever haha

Here are some photos of the above mentioned things:

I hope that next year I can look back on this post and see how much has changed from 2012 in just a year. I suggest that maybe some of you start to do this, it's a wonderful way to keep some of the positive from each year we are blessed to have.

Goodbye 2012, Hello 2013. 

Until next year,

xox

My Holiday Outfits!

The mister is working this year for New Years so I may not really do anything as grand as I have previous years.  Therefore, I am posting this annual post of mine a bit early because it may just end up including these two holidays--if by chance I do end up doing something absolutely spectacular, I will just do a separate post on that ;) Here we go:


Christmas Eve:

Dress: Zara

Stockings: Urban Outfitters (LOVE these!! Had them for a few years and wear them all the time!)

Black Cone Heel Suede Boots: Urban Outfitters

Pink Rhinestone Bow Ring: Vendor at IMATS

Shamballa Bracelets: Gifted from boyfriends Mother

Christmas Day:

Pants: Forever 21

Shoes: Nine West Melitta

Bangles: Forever 21

Blazer: Express

White Tank: Target

Necklace: Macy*s

I didn't really have time to shop for new holiday ensembles this year and I was forced to rummage through my closet for both occasions and I am glad I was! I used things I already and and whipped up two totally new outfits :) Sometimes you just have to look at what you have and pair things together in a new way for a completely new outfit. 

Hope you all enjoyed your holidays!

xox

One of My Weaknesses: Apple Turnovers!

Ingredients:

4 apples (any of your liking, I used a mixture of three in mine because I like to spruce everything up a little ;)- cored and thinly sliced. You may also peel them but this is optional. 3 tablespoons butter 1 cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon water 1  pkg. Puff Pastry Thawed at room temperature 1 cup confectioners' sugar (for the glaze which is also optional) 1 tablespoon milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 egg (for egg wash) 1 tablespoon water (for egg wash)

Directions:

1.	Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the apples to the melted butter in the skillet and cook them while stirring for about 2-3 minutes. Add brown sugar, and cinnamon, and then cook, for 2-3 more minutes. In a separate dish, mix together cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water. Pour into the skillet, and mix well. Cook for another minute or so, or until sauce has thickened. Set the apple mixture aside from the heat and begin your next step.
2.	Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
3.	Prepare your puff pastry sheets by rolling them out to be about an inch wider than they already are. Be sure to flour everything accordingly so your puff pastry doesn't stick to everything and tear. Trim each sheet into a square. Then cut each larger square into 4 smaller squares. Brush some of your egg wash (your 1 egg beaten with 1 tbsp. of water) alongside the edges of each individual square. Spoon apples onto the center of each squares. Fold over from corner to corner into a triangle shape, and press edges together to seal. Place turnovers on a nonstick baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch between them.  Cut an "X" shaped hole in the top of each pastry to give it breathing room. Then brush some more egg wash over the top so it will get a golden brown crust.
4.	Bake for 22-25 minutes in the preheated oven, until turnovers are puffed and lightly browned. Cool completely before glazing.
5.	Now for the extra yummy part, the glaze-- mix together the confectioners' sugar, milk and vanilla in a small bowl. Drizzle glaze over your apple turnovers and you're done!

Enjoy!
xox

BEAUTY GIVEAWAY! (CLOSED)

Boy has it been a while! My last post was the first week of September, coincidentally the week that I started back at school.  Work is always hectic, hello working with children is never a breeze, but load being a full time student on top of that already tiring workload and you get one tired girl! I took this time off from my blog to dedicate some serious time to bettering myself and my future, something that I am sure you can all relate to and or understand.  Like I always tell my sister, "Sissy when you want something bad enough, A. do it yourself and B. do it right the first time--no time for wasting!". I took my own advice these past few months but with school winding down in a week or so, I figured this was the perfect time to sneak in doing something that I love doing most, chatting with you guys and writing my little heart away!

I decided that I wanted to come back and have my first post be a giveaway. If you follow me on twitter (@alyseap) you would know that a few days ago I stated that I was so thankful that all of my readers seem to be still checking in on my page daily, I feel so loved ;) I wanted to show my gratitude for sticking with me on this journey and for being wonderful ol' you. As stated on twitter, I am going to be doing 3 giveaways over the next few weeks.  I wanted to do one that would pertain to the three areas of my blog I find to be the most valuable: food, beauty and instpiration.  The first giveaway that I am doing is the beauty giveaway--but you probably already knew that from the photo and the title--hello! haha

I am giving you all two things that I personally love:

1. The Sonia Kashuk Instructional Eye Palette-Matte
2. The Sonia Kashuk Limited Edition Brush Couture 4 piece travel brush set

I am a huge fan of SK not only for her quality but for the affordability and accessibility of her products. She obviously has her consumer in mind!

I have a few SK brushes and I love them--impeccable quality and even better price points.  The eyeshadow palette is great for everyday or if you are a beginner with makeup--these colors will help you learn the basics. It is so hard to find great pigmented drugstore eye shadows that are matte.  This is an entire palette of matte shadows that will guide you through an everyday nude eye to a dark sultry smoky eye!

HERE ARE THE GUIDELINES TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY: 

1. You must be a subscriber to my blog--this is simply because this is where I am going to announce the winner so how else will you be notified?! :) 
2. You must comment below what your favorite holiday lip shade is or maybe you don't wear anything but chapstick--whatever the case, you must comment below! :)
3. You must be 18+ or have your parents permission as I will eventually need your address if you are chosen as the winner.  

THIS CONTEST IS OPEN INTERNATIONALLY---I love you ALL (after the US, Russia is the leading place where my blog is read from!)

THIS CONTEST WILL RUN FOR EXACTLY ONE WEEK. 12/9-12/16.  I WILL ANNOUNCE THE WINNER CHOSEN AT RANDOM ON MONDAY MORNING 12/17. 

Good Luck! 

xox 

Fashion on Vacation-Puerto Rico Edition!

Finally this post is up! I have been waiting to get some time to organize this "Vacation OOTD'S" post so this morning when I had some free time, I rushed to get it published :) I have had the "draft" post sitting in my blogger dashboard forever.  It just needed some finishing touches and it was ready for launch---well the time has come, here it is. WARNING: there are a TON of items from Forever 21 in this post I have realized lol I guess you could say its a go to spot for last minute vacation things :) Enjoy!



In these posts, I will be writing from outfit 1 (the first on the left), then outfit 2 (middle), then proceeding to outfit 3 (last on the right) Remember this when reading ;)

Outfit 1:

1. Top: Forever 21
2. Shorts: H&M
3. Shoes: Nine West

Outfit 2: 

1. Top: Target C9 by Champion Active-wear Tank 
2. Shorts: Nike Running Shorts (love these because they are dri-fit/quickdry!)
3. Shoes: Speedo Water Shoe Sandal (love this mary-jane look for a water shoe :)

Outfit 3: 

1. Hat: Urban Outfitters
2. Sunglasses: Ray Ban
3. Bathing Suit: Victorias Secret 

Outfit 1:  

1. Top: Target Lace Tank
2. Skirt: Zara
3. Shoes: Lucky Brand
4. Purse: Juicy Couture
5. Earrings: Macy*s

Outfit 2:  

1. Top: Forever 21
2. Jeans: Express
3. Watch: Michael Kors
4. Bow Ring: Forever 21
5. Purse: Juicy Couture

 Outfit 3: 

1. Sunglasses: RayBan
2. Shorts: Forever 21
3. Top: Forever21

Outfit 1: 

1. Top: Forever 21
2. Shorts: Forever 21
3. Flip Flops: Havainas
4. Purse: Juicy Couture
5. Sunglasses: RayBan

Outfit 2: 

1. Top: Target Tank
2. Skirt: Forever 21
3. Shoes: Jessica Simpson 

Outfit 3: 

1. Shirts: Forever 21
2. Leggings: Express 
3. Bracelet: Evil Eye

Outfit 1: 

1. Bathing Suit: French Connection

Outfit 2: 

1. Dress: Forever 21
2. Shoes: Nine West
3. Bow Ring: Forever 21
   

 Who knew posting an entire OOTD post from ALL of your prominent vacation looks would be so time consuming?! lol Oh well, I like reading these so it was worth the time. I would go into makeup looks but they are pretty much the same daily. Naked Palette and my red lips from Covergirl Outlast lipstick.  If you have anymore questions, the contact me tab is located above!

Vacation Fashion,

xox

August Vacation Round Up!: Puerto Rico/Glamping

Who doesn't love a vacation?! Planning vacations are bittersweet for me--bitter because I can never choose where to go and sometimes planning around work etc. is so hard to do, and sweet because I love the fact that it offers me a break from my every day life! This summer I didn't do much aside from some day trips with the kids from work.  I left everything until August (which is also my birthday month if you didn't see my previous post about my birthday wishes) and I am glad I did because it allowed me to close out this Summer with a bang! :)

I planned two pretty opposite types of vacations: 1. to a tropical island with white sand beaches and crystal blue waters and palm trees and 2. Glamorous Camping otherwise known as Glamping haha

Here is a glimpse into how those went:

Camping Weekend

Camping this summer with my best friend was by far one of the most fun times I have EVER had--and that says A LOT considering I am always doing fun adventurous things like this! It was just the two of us so we really found ourselves dying of laughter as we attempted to light a campfire for the first time and as we got harassed by insects with antennae twice their body size! haha I captured a lot of video to make sure we would be able to relive our silliness whenever we wanted.  I considered this glamping because we had a glamorous croissant and fresh fruit breakfast as well as watched movies at night on the iPad as we sat in the wilderness hahah who does that?! :)

My best friend Cristina, mentioned and shown above camping with me, has an amazing tumblr page filled with the kinds of photos we all wish we could capture when we see something awesome haha--it is quite intriguing I must say ;) Check it out! http://kikiseyeview.tumblr.com/

Puerto Rico

My boyfriend has so many photos with his eyes closed---I don't get it! lol ugh

I visit Puerto Rico at least once a year being that my boyfriend and I have family there. This year I brought my friend Lauren and because it was her first time, I wanted to make sure she had a very memorable time! We had SO much fun! Puerto Rico is a great place to relax and just enjoy yourself, there is so much to do-the possibilities are endless :)

There you have it, my Summer travels in a nutshell. There are a bagillion other photos and videos but there are just way too many to share all of them here.

What did you do this summer?

If you have questions on anything that I am wearing here, hang in there, I will be doing a post on all of the OOTD's from these vacations coming up soon!

Fall is almost here,

xox

My Birthday Wishes 8.9.2012

Today marks my 25th birthday. I woke up this morning so happy knowing that I had accomplished so much this past year to justify this birthday being that much more worth celebrating. I was using my days on this Earth to do something and make a change to better myself and others as well. To me, those years in between 21-25 are such a bore, I mean yes they are just as important in some senses but you can't really do anything special because of those ages. At 21 you're legal to drink at least right? (I don't drink, but still find that this is pretty cool) and then there is 22....bore...23...bore....24...bore and then WAM 25! You see I dug deep and hard to find something that was unique to being 25 so that I could feel super excited about this birthday and I did....ladies and gentlemen, 25 is the age one must be to rent certain rental cars without an underage rental fee! WOOHOO!! I can now rent a car on vacation as an adult hahahahaha Hey this made me laugh and I'll take it lol

In a more serious world, however, I am so thankful to have made it to 25 a healthy and smart young woman. I find myself to be pretty level headed and I really have big aspirations for my day each time I wake up--that way I am encouraged to complete that days tasks :)

With age, my idea of my birthday has changed so much.  In college it was about finding the hottest spot to have a dance-a-thon with my friends lol In H.S. it was about getting my grandmother to let me hang out and have dinner with my friends at the local hot spot. Now, my birthday means something much different--it means to me that I have been given the opportunity to have more time on this Earth to complete my incomplete dreams and to help others achieve theirs as well while I am here.

I have a project that I have been working on with the kids I work with for a little over a month. I told them that it would be their birthday gift to me (we will hopefully execute this project some time tomorrow).  Birthdays are no longer about gifts and money and cake, but about celebrating the fact that you have woken up another day, a day that just so happens to have a special meaning, a day that you were given to make yourself happy and lend a hand to those around you in making themselves happy as well.

I don't know about you but seeing someone else smile as a result of something I initiated, that warms the heart more than any gift card, greeting card or present.

Here is my suggestion to you: Start a new tradition--go against the norm and on YOUR birthday do something for others instead. It is the best of both worlds really, you get the satisfaction of knowing that you used your special day to show thanks by making someones world a better place and you are also helping someone accomplish something that they may not have been able to do otherwise. 

If you would like--do something kind for someone today where you have to go that extra mile and then in your head say "Happy Birthday Alysea"! --This would be the best gift ever! 

Happy Birthday to Me :)

xox

Spicy Chipotle Turkey Burger Recipe

A few weeks ago I made these Spicy Chipotle Turkey Burgers and they were the most delicious turkey burger that I have ever had hands down! They were juicy and very flavorful with that extra kick of spice from the chipotle peppers which I love! Where I live we are still in the Summer season, although we are pretty much wrapping it up--but I am sure that weather permitting, grilling season has at least 2-3 months to go which means you're in luck if you're reading this in hopes to find something delicious to whip up for your grill :)

Here is the rundown on how to get these burgers:

When using 1 lb. and depending how large you like your burgers, you can get roughly 4-5 burgers. I used a little more than 1 pound and I got 6 rather large burgers, portion size is up to you! :)

• 1 lb. lean ground turkey (we always look to purchase the most lean meat offered, better for you!)
• 1.5 teaspoons of freshly minced garlic
• 1/2 cup chopped onion (chop these small so that you don't get that rude awakening as you bite into a large piece of onion! haha
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 chipotle chile peppers still in the adobo sauce (these can be found usually in the spanish food aisle of your supermarket)--you want to finely chop these up to add to your meat mixture
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• Season the meat with a little adobo powder (goya) if you don't have this just add 1 tsp. garlic powder and 1 tsp. onion powder in addition to your salt and pepper.  
• Slices of any cheese of your liking, we chose mozzarella and it was delicious! Use whatever cheese you have on hand!
• Your hamburger buns

The photo above is more or less what your meat should look like when finally done being prepared.

Once you are happy with the seasoning of your meat, divide it to be formed into burger patties. This is a trick I use to ensure that almost every burger is of a uniform size:

With your clean fingers, pre-divide the meat while it is still in the dish :)

Once you form them into the pattie size you want, grill them over medium-high heat until they are cooked to your liking.  I like to slice a little hole in the middle of the largest one to take a peek inside to assure that it is cooked thoroughly, we don't want anyone getting sick here! haha To give you a rough time it should take about 4-5 minutes per side before you flip for them to be cooked well enough. A minute or so before you are finished cooking them, add the cheese that you chose and as that melts down, you are finished!

Before I was able to capture a photo of what the finished product looked like for these, they were devoured! Shows you how good they came out right?! lol


Enjoy,

xox

July Beauty/Health/Reading Favorites!

Above you can see all of the things that I chose as my "favorites" for this month. When I find something I really like, I pretty much obsess over it! haha There are a mix of haircare items/makeup and even my daily vitamins and an inspirational book I have been reading for a little over a month. Below I will say a little blurb about each item and ultimately why it made it into this post!

1. Daily Inspiration for Women by Helen Steiner Rice: I have instagramed an excerpt from this book and I have also mentioned it numerous times on my twitter/Facebook, I LOVE this book! It is so small so if I am going away I can even slip it in my purse and it even has that little ribbon bookmark which may seem pretty normal to you, but I always lose my place in books without a bookmark! The daily passages are very short and to the point which I love. I read one each morning before I walk out of the door. I do this because at the end of each passage it poses a question that I like to reflect on for the rest of my day! I got this book from Barnes and Noble. 


2.  Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Hair Masque: I purchased this over a month ago and not only do I LOVE it, I also have so much left still! It is a bit pricey and I wasn't sure if all the "hubbub" about it could really be justified in the almost $30 price tag, but I am justifying it to myself because I only use it twice a week (or once sometimes depending on the pattern that I wash my hair) and because of that and how well I feel it works to make my hair soft and healthy I think this is definitely worth it.  *This smells wonderful too! I purchased mine off of www.soap.com , a partner site to one of my absolute favorite websites www.diapers.com amongst a few others. Here I find that not only can you find products like this a little cheaper, you can also find a coupon code! 


3. Trader Joe's Women's Once Daily Vitamins: Long story short, I needed a new women's daily vitamin and it just so happened that I came across this one while grocery shopping. I love that it doesn't contain gluten or any other nonsensical things that my normal Vitamin Shoppe ones did--not that those "nonsensical things" were harmful for me but I just think the more raw we get the better especially when it comes to vitamins. I take one of these a day with my breakfast in the morning and I am good to go! These also contain Iron which a lot of other daily vitamins don't! I need my Iron people! haha


4. Organic Virgin Coconut Oil: This is a miracle in a jar-no other words to explain it. You can do some research of your own but this is known to help with acne, help add the necessary proteins in your hair to help damaged hair regrow healthier, it is an excellent all natural moisturizer for the skin and sometimes I even use it as a mask! I love this stuff because it smells SO good with no added fragrances, so much so that I just want to eat it sometimes---I in fact tasted it I must admit hahaah DELICIOUS! Coconut Oil is said to have healing affects for diseases, heart problems, it helps with your body's immunity, digestion etc. All around this stuff is amazing! You can even use it as a mask for your hair! Throw some on, wrap it in shower cap, sit down with a bowl of whatever and watch a show--30 mins later, rinse and voi la! 


5. Olay Oil Minimizing Toner: This is pretty self explanatory, I use it before I moisturize my face and I love how clean and refreshing it makes my skin feel! A toner pretty much re-balances the pH levels in your skin to avoid unnecessary breakouts, shininess etc. GREAT!


6. Olay Complete Daily Moisturizer: I wanted to find an alternative to my favorite Aveeno Daily Face Moisturizer and I think I definitely did, I love this stuff! It moisturizes me SO well leaving me with a very supple feeling face but without feeling greasy. This also contains an SPF 15 which is something very important to me and at under $10 for a 6 fl oz bottle, this is a winner in my book!


7. Tarte Amazonian Clay Bronzer in Park Ave Princess: I have been using this every day during the day--It is swatched in one of my previous posts! I love this stuff because it doesn't contain any shimmers but leaves a nice sheen on your cheek which acts as a highlighter at times as well. I love that it is not too dark (say like a contouring powder) and because of that I can wear it during the day for the perfect sun kissed (not muddy) look :) 


8. Urban Decay Zero Cream Eyeliner: Okay, in the beginning, I HATED this. The little brush it comes with really stinks and at first it wasn't opaque at all, I figured this was a loss. I went to IMATS and purchased an angled eyeliner brush from Royal Brushes and decided to give this another go--well, well what do we have here--it WORKED! I think it just needed to be "warmed up" a little by using it a few times. It is not pitch black, but definitely black and I love this for winged liner paired with the angled liner brush--it is what I always use now when doing that look because it is so easy to work with!


9. Covergirl Outlast All Day Lip Color: I don't know how much I can rave about this stuff--It works AMAZING! (Maybe I will do a photo comparison one day...hymm) I can put this on in the morning and literally by the end of the night the color is still full impact and best of all--it doesn't transfer!! My boyfriend LOVES this! I can wear red lips and it's not messy and it doesn't have to be reapplied every hour. I throw the lip conditioner part in my purse and with one reapplication of this when my lips feel a little dry, I'm good to go! Definitely recommend!


10. NYX Megashine Lipgloss in Beige: This is a perfect everyday lipgloss. Isn't sticky and is the perfect pinky natural shade-- A+ in my book!


11. E.L.F. HD Powder: I have tried the MUFE one and I liked it but for way cheaper this one from elf does the same exact thing. This stuff is great and really gives the skin a pore-less airbrushed look when used as a setting powder when you are finished your makeup--perfect for nights out!

Ok, my raves are done haha If you have anymore questions leave me a comment or email me via my contact me tab above! What are you loving this month?

**I will be doing an Updated Haircare Routine/Face Routine VERY soon ;)

Looking Forward to August (My Birthday, Vacations Galore etc.),

xox

Quick OOTD: Fall Fashion in the Summer!

Blogging from my iPhone which means photo quality won't be great but if you follow me on instagram (Alyseap) you probably already saw this outfit of the day :) I really just wanted to let you guys know exactly where I purchased everything from and instagram is for pictures, not 917162 words SO, here you go! Enjoy

Jeans: Zara
Top: Forever 21
Necklace: Etsy (blog post before this has more info on the necklace!)
Shoes: Nine West
Belt: JCREW
Watch: Michael Kors (my staple watch!)
Earrings : Diamond Studs

Makeup: a mix of MAC, Inglot, Tarte, Urban Decay, Maybelline and L'Oreal

Can't wait for fall, but I bet you can tell that from my outfit ;)

Xox

My New Favorite Accessory!

The whole sideways cross trend has been going on for a while now. I first saw it on Kelly Ripa and then nearly every celebrity was wearing one! I have always wanted to purchase one but couldn't find one that was unique and that I loved completely! I always browse through Etsy because I LOVE the idea of being able to purchase vintage, handmade and made with love items that are supporting smaller businesses or in some cases, stay at home mommies :) Why would I get this necklace from a department store when I could probably find it on Etsy and put a little money in someone's pocket directly?

I found this necklace on Etsy and it is everything I ever wanted ! 18K Gold plated and even includes a personalized element--I fell for it immediately, and at under $70 it was a no brainer, this was what I had been waiting around for! haha (Sounds like a love story with my darn necklace right?! lol)

Here are a few photos of my new favorite accessory:








The Names on the necklace are my long time boyfriends and my own--The fact that we have the same number of letters in our names, I wasn't sure that it would work, but Jean, the seller made it work beautifully! I am SO happy with how it came out. The chain falls a little below my collar bone which is perfect because almost no matter what top I am wearing, it can be seen!

My reasoning for getting this necklace is not only because it is a trendy gorgeous piece, but for something a little more sentimental.  As a Christian, I thought this was a wonderful way to be a constant reminder to live in my relationship with Gerard in a Godly, positive, loving way and  ultimately- God and our faith is what will hold our love together :) Call me a sap, but that's just what this reminded me of which made it even more special!

If you would like to get one of these for yourself or as a gift (I'm sure these would make excellent gifts!) here is the sellers info as well as a direct link to the Etsy page.

Link to Necklace

Link to Sellers Full Shop of Personalized Goodies!

Let me know if any of you have this necklace or if you go ahead and purchase one!

xox

Product Review: CONCEALER SMACKDOWN

Today I am going to share with you my thoughts on 5 different concealers in my collection.  Included in these are concealers from Inglot, Sonia Kashuk, NYX, Maybelline and Garnier.  They are all different kinds (jar, roller ball, palette) and for this reason, I feel like they offer different types of coverage depending on what you're looking to conceal.  Unless otherwise mentioned, I am a medium shade in all concealers mentioned.  I know offhand that the Garnier roller ball doesn't really come in a variety of shades so I just made sure to get the tinted one. Let's get started!




I purchased this concealer in a jar from IMATS NYC this April.

• I use this for under eye concealing when I feel like I need a bit more coverage
• I do find that it is VERY thick which although it says crease-less, sometimes leads to minimal creasing even when set with a setting powder.  Perhaps I just have fine lines that aren't visible to my eye, nonetheless as far as coverage, I do like this one a lot and it is very build-able. 
• Find it here for $5.50  

This concealer found its way to my heart via Target :)

• Love that this palette offers 3 different shades that really makes this a one stop shop when it comes to concealing. It even has a setting powder little quadrant!
• Being that it is summer, I am using the darker of the three concealers because it works with my summer tan well.  During the regular months, I would use the middle one :) 
• The greener looking one on the left is what I use to neutralize any redness that I may have and THEN I add the other normal color I would use over it. I use this for spot concealing on my face when needed or under eye-both work well for me. 
• Find it here  for $9.99

 



Tiffany D got me interested in this under-eye concealer. I have been hooked ever since, this is actually my repurchase!

• I love that it has a felt tip applicator-almost feels fuzzy haha This assures me that there will not be tugging on my under eye area which is great to know. Who wants to contribute to early aging anyway right?! :) 
• The shade I use, medium, is perfect and yet still light enough to really brighten up my under-eye area which I am always looking for. 
• This is available at drugstores as are most of my other choices which make them really accessible, again love!
• This concealer does not crease on me when set with a setting powder, and it lasts all day for sure. I also can attest to the fact that it is super blend-able!
• Find it here for $8.99

Another IMATS NYC purchase right here!

• In the beginning I really loved this concealer.  I liked that it came in a tiny cute little jar and it seemed that a little really took you a long way, however, after a month or so rotating on and off with this, I have come to the conclusion that it just doesn't work for me :( 
• It is very "oily" looking--hard to describe but it looks SO shiny when it goes on, definitely not something you want to have when you are trying to conceal something! 
• I like the amount of coverage, but it remains sticky for a while after application--even after setting-odd. 
• On the bright side, love that it is paraben free and not tested on animals!
• Maybe this just didn't work for me and you will love it--if you want to give it a try-you can   Find it here (USA store link) for $10.00

I purchased this from a local drugstore.

• I really got this on a whim-being that it doesn't come in specific colors I figured it would be way too light for me, however, it actually works quite well!
• I like the roller ball application--pop this in your fridge for an extra soothing cooling effect while applying it under your eyes! BLISS!
• I feel like the coverage is light and can be sheer at times, but sometimes that's really all you need-some brightening! 
• I mainly use this in the winter months when my skin isn't really exposed to any sun for tanning purposes (although in the summer I try and really shade my face as much as possible for protection!).  In the summer months, it has just proven to be too light for someone with an olive skin tone as myself. 
• Find it here for $12.99 
• UPDATE!-I checked the Ulta website and they now have a new "medium deep" shade! I must purchase this asap! Can't wait to try it out :) 

Which concealer won you over? Which other not mentioned concealers do you love? If I had to suggest one and only one, it would have to be the Sonia Kashuk palette simply for its versatility.  Aside from the INGLOT concealer, I really loved each and every one of these for different reasons.

Here's to concealing your perfect imperfections,

xox

DIY: How To Make A Diaper Cake

If you read my last post on making a "hospital survival kit" then you know that there is some sort of baby fever lingering in my life somewhere! My boyfriends sister is having a baby boy! (Actually at this very moment she may indeed be in labor!) When I was asked to help plan and execute different things for her shower it was as if a light bulb went off in my head---DING! I get to make all kinds of crafty things and get those "creative juices" flowing!! YAY!

A diaper cake is simply a cake looking structure made entirely of diapers and some other little decorations, it is SO easy to make, trust me! A diaper cake isn't a necessity, but is a nice table top piece for the guest sign in table or the gift table or even the table where the escort cards are sitting, YES this shower had escort cards haha The theme of this particular shower was sports so I took that idea and went with it!

I am going to link to the video that I used to guide me through making this little guy.  I didn't follow the video to a T, but watched it a few times beforehand and got a general idea of what I was supposed to do.  I even used things that we had leftover from the centerpieces we made to tie in the theme and save some $! :)

Here's what I did:

You will need anything you want to use to decorate the cake:

1. Ribbons are usually a simple yet super awesome thing to use to decorate a diaper cake.
2. Diapers in newborn or size 1 work best. I needed about 63
3. Scissors
4. Tons of Rubber Bands of all different sizes
5. Inner tubing from a paper towel roll
6. Hot Glue Gun
7. Optional Cake Base which you can easily find at your local craft store!  

Heat up the glue gun and roll each diaper tightly into a little "log" haha Secure them together with a rubber band.

 

Your rows are going to go 6,12,18 diaper logs for the base layer, second layer will be just 6,12 and final tier will just be 6 :) remember secure everything together with a rubber band like shown in the photo above. At times I could have sworn that the rubber band was going to snap on me but it held up perfectly! :)

In the final product shown at the very top, I used shredded green paper as "grass" in between the layers to conceal the layer seams :) I also used some rubber sports balls as a header and glued those bad boys on with the glue gun. Hymm, what else, oh I actually glued down the diaper cake in its entirety to the cake base that I bought because these particular diapers I used were not going to be used on baby. The photo above reflects the cake base before I trimmed off about 1.5 inches all the way around so that it was more proportionate :) 

To fill anything in that I may have missed because I know I probably missed something, here is the video that I was inspired by when making this piece :) It was the most understandable that I found! 

Good Luck and anymore questions just hit the "Contact Me" tab above and shoot me an email and I will respond as soon as I can!

Sure, I know I could always have just bought a diaper cake, but for me, making things makes them more from the heart <3

Diaper Cakes INSTEAD of Dirty Diapers haha,

xox

OOTD: Aziz Ansari Show in Atlantic City

Hello, OF COURSE I wouldn't have the proper camera on hand to shoot OOTD photos with me on vacation, that would just be too good to be true! haha I always seem so unprepared when it comes to shooting OOTD's. In all reality it is mostly because I never think of them beforehand, hint as to why my photos are always taken by the door! haha I think of it last minute as I am walking out. Anyway, I think you can pretty much still see everything I am wearing in this photo anyway so I hope this post serves its purpose: to show you guys how I throw certain pieces together and to inspire you :)

This past weekend, I ventured to Atlantic City with my boyfriend and my parents to see one of my favorite stand up comedians, Aziz Ansari! I absolutely love his comedic style, I was literally laughing ALL night long! :) For a show like so, I wanted to wear something that would look classy but chic as well, after all its a night show ;) Here is the rundown:

1. Dress: H&M
2. Bangles: Forever 21
3. Earrings: Diamond Studs featured MANY times in my previous posts! 
4. Shoes: Nine West Rocha
5. Handbag: Juicy Couture (Bloomingdales)
6. Hair: Waved with a 1.5" curling wand that I constructed from an old curling iron with a clip!  (If you haven't already seen how this is done, let me know and I will try and do another separate post on that, it is such a $ saver!) 

**IF YOU ARE READING THIS VIA MOBILE SITE OR IF THE PIC JUST APPEARS BLURRY, CLICK ON IT TO ENLARGE AND IT WILL COME UP MORE CRISP! ** (I don't know what the heck is going on with blogger making my photos blurry lately! SO frustrating :(

Yes, I cut my hair ;)

xox

Product Review: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain

Pros: 

1. Wind up bottom (you don't have to sharpen this bad boy!)
2. Wide array of available colors
3. Nourishing formula (it's a balm)
4. Long lasting stain

Cons: 

1. This applicator is like a chunky crayon (similar to the NYX Jumbo eye pencils), therefore you really can't get precise application. I, however, don't mind this too too much because it goes on really quickly because of the large amount of area it covers at once!
2. Don't be deceived, the container is only half way filled with product, boo! 

Final Thoughts:


I really like this lip stain.  It is the consistency of a lip balm so it doesn't try out my lips like many other stains would.  I also like that there are so many different colors offered so that I can have a wide variety in my collection if I am looking for a stain.  I LOVE that I don't have to ever sharpen this and overall I love the staying power.  If I throw this on in the morning, toward the end of the day the glazed look from the balm effect will fade off but I will still have a stain of color on my lips giving me that "Just Bitten" look, no pun intended ;) 


Yay for lip stains!, 


xox