Back for good…or for now?

My last post was in August of 2017 about my “Car Chronicles”. It is now 2020. Many milestones, and a new car, later: I am back with an interest in blogging.

Can this be because quarantine has had an effect on me? Maybe. Can it be because I am a teacher enjoying the feeling of boredom and learning new things and need a platform to share? Definitely.

Content on this blog is random. Some posts are about beauty, some about clothes, books, my car, and now I add another category (or 2): Health and Teaching.

Car Chronicles #1

Also, ironically enough, I decided to read George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones once again: where my previous “Book Babble” posts ended off. I plan on continuing the book babbles where I ended last.

Book Babble: Game of Thrones #3

Well, that is all for now. Let’s see if I write another post tomorrow. Or maybe 3 years from now.

Car Chronicles #1: Getting the Radio to Work

I haven’t written on this blog in a long time, but today while sitting in my car I was inspired. As of Feb 2016 I have owned a used car that was handed to me by my boyfriend. It is a 2003 Acura 3.2 TL. (Two years ago if I would’ve heard that name I would have no idea what to imagine.)

This is what my car looks like, except a mine looks a little more worn if you know what I mean.

This car and I have a love-hate relationship. So many times I am so happy that I have a car because I no longer rely as much on public transportation. But just as many times I have been put in somewhat stressful situations because of my vehicle. These situations may not seem so stressful to everyone but for someone who knows very little about car maintenance and repairs, it could really overwhelm you.

I will catch you up on my most recent car dilemma. The other day I went to get in my car to go out and realized the battery was dead. I got a boost from a friend and after being elated that my car worked, I got in and drove off. Then I went to turn on the radio (because my car is old and doesn’t have AUX connection without taking the whole inner panel apart) and noticed it wasn’t working. It read an error message.

So the lesson here is, if your car battery dies, your radio stops working. At first I thought I could deal without a radio and get it fixed at a later date. But you try driving for a few days without music, it drives you crazy! Now the awesome part was I used handy dandy Google and YouTube to figure out how to fix it. I had to press the 1 and 6 buttons on the radio at the same time and turn the vehicle on. The screen then gave me a serial number. With that serial number I googled a website that would give me a car code. I attempted entering the code many times and I must’ve done it wrong because the radio locked. It no longer allowed me to enter a code. I waited two days and tried again, and booyah! The damn thing worked. I entered the code and heard the best beep ever.

So as I sat in my car, feeling good because I figured out how to fix something myself and (and it worked!) I felt like I just had to share this somewhere. I am a girl who knows nothing, and I am looking forward to learning more.

 

 

Current Beauty Favorites June 2015

When it comes to beauty, there are certain products that I keep an eye out for in my collection.  When I notice it’s almost done, I feel a slight panic.  I get nervous that I will run out before I get the chance to buy another one. When I feel this, that’s when I know I have a staple product.

Anastasia Brow Whiz in Dark Brown

                              

My eyebrows are very important to me.  As well as my hair, but that’s a side bar. I usually do my own eyebrows but I have recently started getting them threaded. My last visit to thread my eyebrows ended tragically. The woman took away half my brow! I have always used the Brow Whiz to help my eyebrows look a little more prominent and fill in gaps, but now I NEED it to give me my brows back!   I have repurchased the Brow Whiz about 5 times.  This brow pencil is the closest to my hair color and lasts the longest without fading.  The color is also not too pigmented.  If its too pigmented it will make your eyebrows look very fake.  This can make your eyebrows look very drawn on if you use it very harshly.  But hey, some people go for that.

One thing I will mention is be careful with faulty packaging.  When purchasing in store, take it, out of the box and make sure the product doesn’t fly out the tube.  I have purchased a Brow Whiz where the whole stick just fell out of the tube and onto the floor  (bye bye 20 bucks).

Milani’s Clear Brow Gel

There not too much I can say about this brow gel. It helps the Brow Whiz stay put for longer and works similar to hair gel, except it doesn’t make my eyebrow hairs stiff and keeps them in place.

Beauty Blender

This has changed my makeup application experience.  I’ve always felt like my foundation has looked cakey and thick.  My skin has its ups and down and with brushes I’ve tried, I just wasn’t fully content.  The Beauty Blender makes my foundation look natural and perfect almost every time.  Now I have been into “baking”.  Which is when you use a beauty blender to apply loose powder.  I love this little guy and regardless of its price, will continue to purchase.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

This mascara is does everything I need it to.  It makes my eyelashes dark, lengthens them, curls them, and volumizes them.  AND it does separate them too much.  And the longer I have the tube, the better my eyelashes comes out.

Jordana Lip Liner in Rock N Rose

This lip liner shade is exactly what I look for in nude cool toned color.  I often apply lip liner all over my lips.  This shade is perfect for Fall/Winter.  Hey, I even use it in the Spring.  This shade darkens my lips while not giving too much peach, or pink colors.  I have purchased two and will continue to buy it when I run out.

Milani Color Statement Nail Laquer in “Dolci”

Here is a quick post on a polish by a favorite brand. This is from Milani’s Color Statement line in the color Dolci.  This is the first time I use a metallic color on all nails. I think it’s a nice change but it’s not something I picture myself doing often.

This polish applied really nicely and it had a quick drying time. I think the drying time was so fast because of the fact that it is a metallic color (that’s just a theory I have).

I’m a fan of this bronzey color.  It’s almost like a neutral so it goes with anything.  I look forward to trying more Color Statement nail polishes in the future.

Like my ring? Heres a link: Sailor Moon Ring

Click here for my previous nail post.

My Milani Baked Blush Collection

I have a very special relationship with the Milani brand. The first makeup product I ever bought was the Milani Multitasker Face Powder.  As my interest in beauty grew I learned more about it. When I made the choice to go cruelty free on all products, I was so pleased to find out that the brand does not test on animals either. Ever since then I have held the brand close to my heart.

Probably the second thing I have bought from the brand was one of the Baked Blushes. Today I own 4 of the baked blushes alone!

 
This is a baked blush in Rose D’Oro. There is alot of gold and warm tones in this blush and is a little more on the red-orange side.

 
This shade, Bellisimo Bronze, is very similar to the previous one except its more bronzey.

 
This shade is my favorite blush of all blushes! This one is Luminoso. This one is most popular shade of the collection, and rightfully so. I’m a very neutral kind of gal so this is right in my alley. Its a beautiful glowy peach shade.

Now this one is straight up PINK! This is the shade Delizioso Pink. This one opposed to the other shades I own is the only matte one. All the other ones are filled with fine gold shimmer. (Milani has a thing for gold as you can see by the packaging.) I have to say this is the one I reach for the least, not beacause its a bad shade, but because I am cery hesistant with color.  Neutral shades are very forgiving unlike colorful shades. So I give props to the people who work with the colorful products.

 Here are the colors side by side.

 Here are all swatches, in the same order as the picture above it.

Which color speaks to you?

Click here for my previous collection post.

My Wet n Wild Color Icon Collection (Blush,Bronzer, & Highlight)

Clearly I have a deep love for Wet n Wild.  They are just so affordable, colorful and most importantly, cruelty free. Within the last few months, I’ve acquired a few of their Color Icon Bronzers.  Yes they are one of those weird lines where they call even the highlight shades “Bronzers”.

Here I have one product not considered a bronzer but a Blush and Glow Trio in Sunset Junction and a bronzer that really is a highlighter in Reserve Your Cabana. 

The first three swatches (from left to right) are from the Sunset Junction trio.  The bronzer is a bronze shade with a hint of warm brown.  The blush is a pinky color and the highlight is a light pink shimmery shade. (I am really trying my best with these descriptions.)  Reserve Your Cabana is a champagne shade.  All these shades go on more sheer than appeared in the picture.  But sometimes that’s not a bad thing.  Just means you build it up to your liking.

Here are the actual bronzer shades.  The one all the way to the left is a limited edition shade called Toast to You.  The middle one is Bikini Contest and the last one is Ticket to Brazil.

Toast to You is a very orangey shade that I am not too crazy about, but it is manageable.  Bikini Contest has a very red undertone and is very shimmer. This is my least favorite of the collection.  My favorite bronzing shade from the line is Ticket to Brazil. This shade can bring a great sun-kissed color to the face.  Of the three bronzer shades, I would repurchase Ticket to Brazil.

Wet n Wild Megalast Nail Polish in “Warm Filter”

Here I have another beautiful shade from Wet n Wild’s Megalast collection. This one is pinky coral shade called Warm Filter.    

  

This is such a pretty color for the warm seasons. In my earthy neutral toned wardrobe it really gives a sweet pop of color.

    

This is the first time I paint my nails since my last post.  I’ve been busy and haven’t had the time to paint my own nails so I have been getting them done at a local nail salon. Every time I get my nails done it only lasts about three days before the chipping begins. At that point I end up taking off the whole thing.

I know people get the Gel Manicures to keep their manis long lasting but I don’t know how I feel about constantly putting my hands in those UV light machines.

Sephora Haul May 2015

I am beginning this post stating that I will not be going to Sephora anytime soon! My membership has been upgraded to VIB! I’ve shopped at Sephora for three years now and I was never VIB! This upgrade is very bitter-sweet.

This trip was very successful.  I have high expectations for all the products I purchased today.  All of these products are CRUELTY FREE! With a lot of research, and thanks to Logical Harmony, I can now confidently go into Sephora and scout out the brands that do not test on animals. And all of these brands are great quality.  It comes to show that cosmetic animal testing needs to become a thing of the past.

Too Faced Melted Liquified Longwear Lipstick in Melted Nude 

Too Faced Original Primed and Poreless Primer

Cover FX Pressed Mineral Foundation in G30

Cover FX Cream Concealer in G Light

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Lip Therapy

Pink Beauty Blender

Anastasia Beverly Hill Brow Whiz in Dark Brown

The only products I have repurchased is the Brow Whiz and the Cover FX Mineral Foundation (I was color matched to P40 but that color was too dark). All the other products I have never tried before.  I would love to hear what you think about any of the products.

For a list of Logical Harmony‘s Cruelty Free and Vegan Brands List Click Here

DSW Shoe Haul April 2015

One of my favorite sites to shop for shoes is DSW! They have an amazing selection and their prices are great too. This time around I had warm weather in mind.

 Yes these are BOBS not TOMS. Nothing against TOMS I just saw these on the site and went for it. Shoes like these are awesome for the summertime when you don’t wear sandals. Quick and easy to put on. The only thing I will say is that they turned my toes a tint of red which you will see in another photo.

Haha these are my little black heels. I like to buy heels that are about 2 inches because I know I can walk in them. I hate to go out and be uncomfortable. This height is good when you’re trying to get used to heels. Maybe my next pair I’ll be a little adventurous and get 3 inches.

Excuse the red tinted toes and toe nails. The BOBs made them that way 😦 These sandals I’m a bit iffy about. They don’t flatter my feet too much, but they are cute.

Links to Shoes Mentioned

Skechers Bobs Peace and Love Flat

Mix No.6 Selisa Pump

Rocket Dog Fannie Flat Sandal

Wet n Wild Megalast Nail Polish in “Reject the Mainstream”

I have not written a post in a long time! Thought I would give you a little something real quick, and whats quicker than a single polish post. Yesterday I used Wet n Wild’s Megalast Nail Polish in Reject the Mainstream.

This is a very pretty lavender and only needed 1-2 coats. Some nails looked a bit streaky so I threw on a second coat to make sure the whole nail was colored. The formula is decent but the quick application makes up for it. It has a wider brush that takes some getting used to but cuts painting time.

  

Excuse the cuticle area! I heard that its better to just push cuticles back rather than cutting them off. How do you take care of your cuticles?