Would You Rather?

     Hi Everyone! Hope you all had a great weekend! I wanted to kick of the week with a tag. I was tagged by the wonderful Lily over on Beauty with Lily, her blog is so awesome! Please go check her out! :)

Here goes...The Would You Rather Tag: Makeup Edition!

1.) Would you rather lose all of your mascaras, eyeliners, lipsticks, and lip glosses, or lose all of your palettes and eyeshadows?

As much as it would hurt me to see them go, I'm going with palettes and eyeshadows. If I still had my mascaras, eyeliners, lipsticks, and glosses, I'd still be able to create a decent look.

2.) Would you rather chop off all your hair or never be able cut it again?

Ahhh!! I would HATE to chop off my hair, but I'm going with that because it eventually would grow back!

3.) Would you rather have a coral cheek or a pink cheek?

Definitely pink, it's my favorite color of blush to wear!

4.) If you had $1000 to spend, would you rather buy clothes or makeup?

Could I do half and half? :) 

5.) Would you rather apply lipstick as eyeliner, or eyeliner as lipstick?

Ummm, definitely eyeliner as lipstick. There are some eyeliners out there that could pass as lip liners!

6.) Would you rather only shop at MAC or Sephora?

No question, Sephora! I love my variety! 

7.) Would you rather use only one eyeshadow color or one lip color for the rest of your life?

This is hard, but I'm going with lip color. I'd hate to never be able to play around with my eyeshadows again!

8.) Would you rather wear winter clothes in summer or summer clothes in winter?

Winter clothes in summer - I'm always cold anyway, and there's no way I would wear shorts, a tank, and flip flops in the snow! :)

9.) Would you rather have bright nail or dark nail all year round?

This one's really hard for me! Hmmm...I guess bright.

10.) Would you rather give up your favorite lip product or your favorite eye product?

Goodness! I'll say lip, since they tend to be more "dupeable." 

11.) Would you rather only be able to wear you hair in a pony tail or a messy bun?

Messy bun.

12.) Would you rather never be able to paint your nails again or never use lip gloss?

Easy, never use gloss. There's a ton of other lip products I can use, and I could never go without painting my nails!

13.) Would you rather shave your eyebrows and have none at all or sharpie them in everyday?

What?!? Ugh! I'll go with sharpieing ( <--- is that a word??) very carefully, trying to make them look as hair-like as possible!

14.) Would you rather live without makeup or nail polish?

As much as I love nail polish, this one's easy. Can you imagine life without makeup? :)

     Ugh!! That was quite difficult! I'm glad none of these questions are real life stuff! :) 

     I tag these beauties:

Amber at All Night Beauty

Renny at Sincerely Renny

Annie at Drugstore Dreamer

     Have a wonderful day!

<3 Vanessa

Sunshine Award

     Hi everyone! I was tagged by Hope over at Beauty and Bliss to do the Sunshine Award tag. She not only has a great blog, but has recently started an awesome Youtube channel as well! Go check her out, you won't be disappointed!

Here are the rules for the Sunshine Tag:

• Share 11 random facts about yourself.
• Answer 11 questions the nominating blogger has created for you.
• List 11 bloggers. They should be bloggers who you believe deserve the recognition.
• Post 11 questions for the bloggers you nominate to answer, and let all of them know that they have been nominated.

11 Random Facts about Me:

1. I absolutely love to cook.
2. I'm 5'7''.
3. I got married at age 20, and we're still madly in love. <3 (I'm 26 now.)
4. I'm from a tiny town in Central Pennsylvania.
5. We have two beautiful little toddlers.
6. I lived in South Dakota for two years. (Hubby grew up there.) Didn't like it and we moved back to my hometown.
7. Purple's my favorite color.
8. I'm kind of an old lady at heart - I love to crochet in the winter. :)
9. I love to read.
10. I love comfort food - wish I could eat it everyday!
11. I only live a 5 hour drive from NYC, but have never been there! Need to go!

11 Questions from Hope:

1. What is your favorite thing about being a blogger?  Just having an outlet to share my thoughts, and people who genuinely care at the other end. :)
2. What is your favorite snack?  A homemade coffee drink of some sort (latte, macchiato, etc.). Yes, I consider that a snack!
3. What is your favorite clothing store?  Strawberry. So cute and inexpensive!
4. What season is your favorite?  Fall by far!
5. Do you have any pets?  I have a beautiful little kitty, Lily, and two awesome Siberian Huskies, Blazer and Nanuk.
6. What is your favorite brand of makeup?  This is always such a hard question! If I could only use one brand for the rest of my life, I think I'd go with Maybelline.
7. Where is one place you definitely want to visit someday?  NYC, and Europe.
8. What is your favorite animal?  Cats <3
9. Do you prefer drugstore or highend makeup?  I love both, but I'm gonna go with drugstore.
10. Where do you live?  In a teeny tiny town in Pennsylvania.
11. What is your dream car?  A Corvette.

11 Questions for you to answer:

1. What is your favorite type of makeup? (Lipstick, blush, eyeshadow, etc.)
2. What is your dream job?
3. If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
4. What's your favorite holiday?
5. What would you have for your last supper?
6. If you could have supper with anyone, past or present, who would it be?
7. City or Country?
8. What is your favorite palette?
9. Do your friends and family know about your blog?
10. What's your favorite TV show?
11. Who's your biggest inspiration?

People I tag:

1. Renny
2. Kate
3. Shalunya
4. Elle 
5. Ashley
6. Liz
7. Julie and Ashley
8. Tracy
9. Betti
10. Kallie
11. Micaylah

     Have a wonderful day!

<3 Vanessa

Vanessa's World ~

- It's cold out today! High of only 44. I don't mind though, I'm a cold kinda girl. :)

- The weather is putting me in a baking mood - maybe I'll make some chocolate chip cookies!

- A few pictures from my area from this past weekend :)

Wishlist Wednesday

     Hi Everyone! Wishlist Wednesday is a series that I've been seeing a few other bloggers doing, and I wanted to start doing as well. So once a month, I'll be posting the things that I'm most longing for! :) I think it's fun to see what other people want, and hope you enjoy seeing my wishlists.

     This is the time of year when all the brands, drugstore and highend, are coming out with holiday collections and special sets. It's so fun to browse the store aisles and websites! There are so many things out there that I would love to have, but here are a few of my top wants.

Real Techniques Duo Fiber Collection

I own quite a few RT brushes and really love all of them. After reading Kate Spitz's review of the duo fiber brushes, I really want this set!

Tarte Gorgeous Getaways Portable Palette Set

I'm a big fan of Tarte's blushes, but have never tried their eyeshadows. The colors may look a little underwhelming in the picture, but when I saw this in person at Ulta last week, I was very impressed! The only thing that would possibly deter me from getting this? It's quite bulky, and would take up a lot of room in my stash. I'm still considering it! 

Tarte Picture Perfect LE Gem Eyelash Curler

At $19, this may seem a bit extravagant when I already own a perfectly fine eyelash curler, but I just can't help myself! Purple is my favorite color, and I love the gems. 

Too Faced Beauty Blogger Darlings Set

How cute is the name of this kit? :) It's only $20, and includes what looks to be deluxe size samples of four of their best known products.

     I'd love to know if you have tried any of these products! If you have, please let me know what you think of them!

     Have a wonderful day!

<3 Vanessa

Fall Makeup Haul

     Hi Everyone! Today I wanted to share a few things with you that I've purchased over the past few weeks. I like to make the rounds at my local CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid at least every two weeks, sometimes every week, and just pick up a few things here and there, depending on what's on sale and what catches my eye. I've been on the lookout especially for things that just say "fall" to me. :)

Sorry about the glare, guys - it was super sunny out today!

• Wet n Wild Fergie Collection Nail Color in Emerald Rock City - this is a deep shimmery emerald shade that I thought would be perfect for the Christmas season. I've never tried the Fergie nail polish, I hope I like the formula! 
• Wet n Wild Megalast Nail Color in Haze of Love - this is my favorite line of nail polish, I love the brush, the formula, the price, and the wide selection of colors. I highly recommend these! This is a beautiful, creamy burgundy color that will go right from fall into winter.
• Wet n Wild Megalast Nail Color in Private Viewing - a lovely pale pink color that looks like it will still go on opaque. 
• Sinful Colors Nail Polish in Let's Meet - Being from central Pennsylvania, I'm a huge fan of all the Pittsburgh sports teams! I wanted to do some football nails that incorporated the Steelers, so this will come in handy. (Our colors are black and gold.)
• Wet n Wild Megalast Nail Color in Wet Cement - I've been seeing this color a lot around the blogosphere lately and had to pick it up! It's a pale lavender/gray color.
• Wet n Megalast Nail Color in Under Your Spell - what a gorgeous color! It's a rich, shimmery deep burgundy, perfect for winter.
• Wet n Wild Coloricon Blusher in Berry Shimmer - contrary to what the name says, there's no shimmer in this, it's more of a satin finish. A beautiful berry shade, once again perfect for fall.
• Salon Perfect Color Enhance Lashes in Plum - I thought these looked so cool! They're Demi Wispies, one of my favorite types of lashes, and they have deep purple hairs mixed in with the black. Can't wait to use these and see how they look on the eyes!
• L'Oreal Colour Riche LaLaque in Never Laque-ing - I was really excited when I found these in my local Rite Aid! They (along with the LeMattes) are limited edition, and I've heard some people say that they're already being discounted in some stores. This is a beautiful wearable pink shade with a little bit of shine. 
• L'Oreal Colour Riche LeMatte in Matte-r of Fact - straight up dark burgundy. I usually prefer mattes when I'm wearing darker shades, so I'm liking this one. 
• Jordana 12 Hr Made to Last Liquid Eyeliner Pencil in Black Point - I am absolutely in love with this line of pencils! It's a deep, dark, rich black, and it stays put all day! At $2.99, I see this becoming my go-to black eyeliner.
• Jordana Twist & Shine Moisturizing Balm Stain in Cranberry Crush - I was just slightly disappointed in the color, in my opinion it's almost more of a fuchsia color than cranberry. I was expecting it to be darker. That being said, I love the formula, I just see it being more of a spring/summer color for me.
• Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Plum Wine - I think these putty-like blushes really give a nice fresh look to the cheek. 
• Revlon Photoready Bronzer in Bronzed & Chic - I've been wanting this for while after hearing Emily Noel over on Beauty Broadcast rave about it, but I was kind of put off by the $13 price tag for a drugstore bronzer. I ended up getting this one for $3 at CVS by combining a sale, a coupon, and my CVS bucks!

From top to bottom:

Bronzed & Chic

Berry Shimmer

Plum Wine

Black Point

Matte-r of Fact

Never Lacque-ing

Cranberry Crush

     Have you tried any of these products? If you'd like to see looks or reviews on any of them, just let me know!

     Have a wonderful day!

<3 Vanessa

     I've been wanting to do something for a while at the end of my blogs that two of my favorite bloggers - Emily at Beauty Broadcast and Lily at Beauty with Lily - do. As with all of you, my life is not one dimensional, and includes a lot more than makeup. :) These little snippets at the end of my posts will just give you a little peek into my world, and allow me to share some things other than makeup with you!

Vanessa's World ~

- The weather here has just been perfect lately! Mid 50s and sunny, just the way I like it for fall!

- Picked up some doughnuts this morning from my favorite bakery, Mamie's. They are to die for!!

- I'm planning on dressing up as a witch this year to take my kids trick-or-treating. Are any of you dressing up for Halloween?

How Much is My Face Worth?

     Hi Everyone! Hope you're all having a great week! I've been on a little hiatus of sorts, as my personal life has been very busy! We were down in Georgia for a while for my brother in law's military graduation. It was fun seeing him, as well as my mother in law again! Our kids had a great time too, it was our first big trip with them and they did great! I have some pics from the trip on my Instagram if you'd like to see! :) I thought I'd get back into the swing of things with the "How Much is my Face Worth?" tag. Lily from Beauty with Lily tagged me, and I've been excited to do it! As I'm sure with a lot of you too, what I wear differs greatly from day to day, and this is just what I happened to be wearing today. I'm wearing black leggings and a black shirt with a gray scarf, so I wanted to match my makeup with my outfit. Here goes:

• Smashbox Photo Finish Primer - I wasn't sure how to price this, as this was a sample I received in my Ipsy bag. I got five things in my bag and paid $10 for it, so I'm giving this a value of $2
• Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Foundation - $38
• Maybelline Fit Me Foundation (I mix this with the Tarte) - $5.94
• Hard Candy Glamoflauge Concealer - $6
• Elf HD Powder - $6
• Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder - $3.97
• Elf Contouring Blush and Bronzer (I used the bronzer for my contour) - $3
• Covergirl Cheekers Blush in True Plum - $3.74
• Urban Decay Primer Potion - sample size free with my Naked Palette
• Urban Decay Naked Palette (I used Sin, Sidecar, Gunmetal, and Creep)- $50
• Elf Eyebrow Kit - $3
• Essence I <3 Rock Eye Liner - $0.99
• Lancome Hypnose Doll Lashes Mascara - $27
• Wet n Wild Megalenth Waterproof Mascara (for bottom lashes) - $2.99
• Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Plumrose - $5.49

Grand Total: $152.12

     Wow! This is actually quite a bit less than some of the other ladies' totals that I've seen! Even with switching up my makeup everyday, I'd say this is probably a good average of my day-to-day total, as I use mostly drugstore with a few high end products thrown in! This of course does not include skincare or tools.

     It seems that a lot of the blogs I read have done this tag, so I tag YOU to do this if you haven't yet! Please put a link to your blog in the comments if you do it, I'd love to see how much your face is worth!

     Have a wonderful day!

<3 Vanessa

September Favorites

     Hi Everyone! Another month has flown right by, and it's time again for monthly favorites! 

• NYC Big Bold Bronzer in MetropoliTan - First of all let me say that I'm not sure if these were limited edition - I apologize if they are. I got this at my Rite Aid back in the spring, and I'm thinking they might have been part of a spring collection. I've been loving this bronzer as a contour! I have light skin, and I think it's perfect for me. The tone of this bronzer reminds me a lot of NYC Sunny, only a little darker. There's a slight sheen to it, but no shimmer. It's also huge, it's going to last me a long time!
• ELF High Definition Powder in Sheer - This powder has been a lifesaver for my undereyes! I use it to set my concealer, and no matter what concealer I'm using, I no longer have to deal with any undereye creasing, something that used to happen on a daily basis. And speaking of huge products, I don't think I'll ever be able to feature this in an empties post!
• Rimmel Kate Lipstick in 103 - This was definitely my most worn lip product over the past month! It's just such a wearable pink shade and goes with about any outfit or makeup look. The Rimmel Kate line is quickly becoming one of my favorite lipstick lines. The ones in the red tubes like this one are matte, but they are seriously the creamiest, most comfortable mattes I've ever worn.
• Biolage Thermal-Active Setting Spray - I usually curl my hair about twice a week or so, and never do it without this product! I spray it lightly all through my hair, let it dry for a minute, and then curl my hair. It holds the curl like no one's business! I used to get so frustrated because the curls in my hair would last only a few hours. With this product, I seriously have second day curls! Can't recommend it enough.
• Sigma E40 Tapered Blending Brush - Back before I started seriously getting into makeup, it seemed like I could never get my eyes to look "just right." Little did I know back then that the right tools make all the difference. This is an awesome blending brush! It's amazing what a difference it makes in your overall eye look when you use a nice fluffy brush like this to blend out those edges. This brush is just soft enough to blend everything out without removing all of the shadow you just put there. 
• Michael Todd True Organics Pumpkin Facial Mask - It seems like everyone who received this in their Ipsy bag is loving it, including me! It truly smells like real pumpkin, which might be off-putting to some people, but I love it! I use this every week, and my skins looks and feels much more radiant than before I started using it. I definitely plan on purchasing a full size when this little guy is gone. Please note that this is not recommended for sensitive skin.
• ELF Eyebrow Kit in Medium - After running out of my Tarte Brow Architect pencil (which I absolutely loved), I was on the hunt for something a little more inexpensive. After some trial and error, I finally tried this kit, and really love it! One side is a waxy substance, the other side is powder. You can use only one or the other, or both, which is what I do. It nicely defines my brows, and is a great color match for me, too!

     I hope you found this helpful! Let me know if you've tried any of these products, and what you thought of them! What were you favorites this past month? 

 

     Have a wonderful day!

<3 Vanessa

5 Under $5

     

     Happy Friday Everyone! Today I'm bringing you 5 products under $5, all of which I are well loved pieces in my collection. My goal is not to just show you random things under $5, but products I truly love and recommend! Let's get started - 

Jordana Twist & Shine in Sweet Pink | Almay Liquid Lip Balm in Rosy Lipped | Wet n Wild Color Icon in Walking on Eggshells | Wet n Wild Color Icon Blush in Pearlescent Pink | ELF Shimmering Facial Whip in Persimmon

Jordana Twist & Shine Moisturizing Balm Stain in Sweet Pink | $2.99

The color is showing truer to color here than in the very first picture.

I love these balm stains! They have so much color payoff and shine, and the staining effect lasts all day! I am wanting to pick up another one of these in a fall shade.

Almay Liquid Lip Balm in Rosy Lipped | $4.48

I'm a huge fan of these Liquid Lip Balms (check out my review), and I love this particular shade when I'm wanting a shiny nude lip.

Wet n Wild Color Icon Eye Shadow Trio in Walking on Eggshells | $2.99

Please excuse the goosebumps on my arm in all of these pics - it was chilly in my house! :)

Is there a Beauty Blogger out there who doesn't love this trio? :) It's just the perfect little palette for everyday looks, or you could glam it up with winged liner and falsies.

Wet n Wild Color Icon Blush in Pearlescent Pink | $2.99

ELF Shimmering Facial Whip in Persimmon | $1.00

These are products that look great on their own, and I also love layering them for a really pretty effect! The facial whip is an awesome highlight when applied lightly, and it brightens up the pink tone in the blush underneath.

     Well there you have five awesome products, all under $5! I will be making this a monthly series, so stay tuned for more beauty bargains! Let me know if you've tried any of these products, or if you have any recommendations of some of your favorites!

     Have you followed me on Bloglovin' yet? It's a great way to stay up-to-date on all of your favorite blogs!

     Have a wonderful weekend!!

<3 Vanessa

     

The Autumn Tag

     It's FALL everyone!! :) Absolutely the best time of the year. I'm blessed to live in central Pennsylvania, surrounded by mountains with changing colors and cornfields turning brown. It's almost like I get a renewed energy this time of year, and I'm trying to make the most of every day. :)

     Lily from Beauty with Lily tagged me to do this, and I'm excited to answer everything! Lily has a wonderful blog with unique, well-written posts - go check her out! :) Now on to the tag...

Favorite thing about Autumn
 -I'm definitely not going to be able to choose just one! The cooler weather, the changing leaves that crunch under your feet, the crispness in the air, Halloween, pumpkins everywhere, Thanksgiving, I could go on and on!

Favorite Drink
-I'm gonna be real original here and go with PSL ;) I also love my homemade version. And I can't forget apple cider - I'm not talking the generic stuff at the grocery store, I'm talking fresh cider from my local orchard!

Fave Scent/Candle
 -I love the smell of BBW Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin, I usually spritz some of the body spray on every day during fall. For candles, anything that has a pumpkin, coffee, or spice scent to it.

 Best Lipstick
 -I'm really into the berry lip trend, I've been picking up quite a few products lately. I can't narrow it down to just one yet, I'll have to wear them all some more.

Go to Moisturizer
 -Lately I've been using Yes to Carrots Rich Moisture Day Cream, it's really is very moisturizing.

Fave Go to Color for the eyes

 -I want to incorporate more cranberry tones into my eye looks, it'll go nice with my berry lips!

Favorite Music/Singer/Band to listen to
-This doesn't really change by season (except for of course Christmas!), I really listen to a little bit of everything. 

Favorite Outfit to wear

-Skinny jeans or leggings, a flowy shirt or oversized sweater, scarf, boots, and gold jewelry.

 

Autumn Treat
-Homemade Pumpkin Roll!

Favorite Place to be
-Outside! or inside with all of the windows open :)

I tag:

Elizabeth at Elizabeth: Beauty and Beyond

Amber at All Night Beauty

     Consider yourself tagged as well! Link in the comments if you do this tag, I'd love to read your answers!

     Have a wonderful day!

<3 Vanessa

Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte

     Happy Monday Everyone! I hope you all had a great weekend! I can think of no better way to start off the week than with a good cup of coffee. The only thing better than that? An at home version of the season's most popular drink, the beloved PSL! I live about 20-25 minutes away from the nearest Barnes and Noble (45 minutes away from the nearest actual Starbucks!), so a daily PSL isn't really an option for me, not to mention a daily latte wouldn't be easy on the wallet! Being the coffee junkie I am, I was on the hunt for an easy way to make lattes in my own kitchen, without investing in an enormous espresso machine. After some looking into it, I decided to get a Bialetti Moka Pot, a stovetop coffee maker that apparently is as popular in Italy as drip machines are here in the US. The pots come in different sizes, I got the 6-cup, which I find brews just enough coffee to make two drinks (mochas, lattes, etc.). The coffee that this pot produces technically isn't espresso, but it's about as close as you can come without an actual espresso machine. The coffee it brews is smooth, dark, and rich without being bitter. It's as easy as filling the bottom part with water and the filter with coffee grounds, then letting it brew right on your stove. It takes about 10-15 minutes to brew.

     To make my Pumpkin Spice Latte, I use this recipe for the syrup. It's a simple syrup flavored with real spices and real pumpkin, something you won't get if you use a store bought syrup. I keep the syrup in a pint sized Mason jar in my fridge, it keeps for about a week. 

     To make the latte, I put about two tablespoons of the pumpkin spice syrup in a coffee cup, then microwave it for about 10 seconds, just so it doesn't cool down my latte. Then I fill my cup up about halfway with the espresso (you could also just use strong brewed coffee), top it off with hot milk, and if you're feeling it, whipped cream and caramel sauce and/or nutmeg. It is so delicious! :)

     Do any of you have this wonderful little pot? Let me know in the comments if you try this latte!

     Have a wonderful fall day! :)

<3 Vanessa

Disclaimer: I bought this pot with my own money and am in no way affiliated with the Bialetti company. I truly just love this product!

Empties

     Hey Everyone! Today I wanted to share my thoughts on some products that I've completely used up. This is a pretty popular thing to do on blogs, and I'm jumping on the bandwagon! I think it's a great way to find out what someone really thinks about a product - by the time I've used something up, I definitely have an opinion on it! Let's jump right in (from left to right) -

• Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation in 100 Ivory - this is one of my favorite foundations. I always have a backup of it! It is very longwearing without being cakey, even on my dry skin. Repurchase? Yes.
• Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream for Dry Skin - this was okay, but nothing special. It almost felt like it didn't really sink into my skin, just kind of sat on top of it. For being marketed towards dry skin (which I have), it wasn't very moisturizing at all. Repurchase? No.
• Herbal Essences Smooth Collection Shampoo - I love this shampoo! It gets my hair nice and clean without drying it out, and the classic scent takes me right back to Jr. High! :)  (I have the conditioner too, but I always seem to run out of shampoo first!) Repurchase? Yes.
• Not Your Mother's "She's a Tease" Volumizing Hairspray - This was a really nice hairspray, it had great hold without being stiff or sticky. I didn't like the scent at first, but it kind of grew on me. Repurchase? Probably.
• Bath and Body Works Fine Fragrance Mist in Japanese Cherry Blossom - This is my signature scent! I wear it almost every day. :) It's just such a beautiful, feminine fragrance. If you've never smelled it, I definitely would the next time you're in a Bath and Body Works store. :) Repurchase? Yes!
• Bath and Body Works Deep Cleansing Hand Soap in Garden Herbs and Pears - I'm so in love with these soaps! I always have one in my kitchen and one in my bathroom. These were really nice summer scents - I especially loved Pears, it really smelled just like the real deal! Repurchase? Yes.
• Bio True Contact Solution - if you're a contact wearer, I highly recommend this solution. It's the only one I've tried that doesn't irritate my eyes. Repurchase? Yes
• Mary Kay Timewise Night Solution - I bought this probably about a year or so ago, and it's taken me a while to finish because I'm not the biggest fan of it. The texture was similar to the Garnier Gel-Cream, where it didn't really moisturize at all and just sort of sat on my skin. Repurchase? No.

     I'd love to hear if any of you have used any of these products, and if so, what you think about them! Have a wonderful day!

<3 Vanessa

This and That Tag

     Hi Everyone! Today I thought I'd do a tag post - I haven't done any yet, but will be doing more in the future as I think they are a fun way to get to know each other better! I was tagged by the lovely Lily over at Beauty with Lily. She is absolutely one of my favorite bloggers, I look forward to her posts so much! Go check her out!

Makeup:

1.) Blush or Bronzer: Definitely blush!
2.) Lip Gloss or Lipstick: Lipstick
3.) Eyeliner or Mascara: I'm probably alone in this as I think most women would say mascara, but I'm going with eyeliner. I think my eyes look naked with just mascara.
4.) Foundation or Concealer: Ugh, this is so hard!! I have dark circles, but I think it would look weirder if I just had concealer on them and nothing else on my face, than if I had foundation on and my face was evened out but you could still see the circles. Long story short I think I'd go with foundation! :)
5.) Natural or Colored Eye Shadow: I'm gonna have to go with the neutrals
6.) Pressed or Loose Eye Shadow: Definitely pressed
7.) Brush or Sponge: I haven't tried the Beauty Blender yet, so I'm going with my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush

Nails:

1.) OPI or China Glaze: Well, I've never used China Glaze, but I'm not the world's biggest fan of OPI either!
2.) Long or Short: Medium!
3.) Acrylic or Natural: Naturals
4.) Bright or Dark: Both, depends on the season, what I'm wearing, etc.
5.) Flower or No Flower: No flower I guess. I like designs and playing around with nail art, but I rarely do a flower.

Body:

1.) Perfume or Body Splash: I definitely wear body spray more often (addicted to Bath and Body Works!)
2.) Lotion or Body Butter: Lotion
3.) Body Wash or Soap: Body Wash
4.) Lush or Other: I've never tried Lush, I'm a huge fan of Bath and Body Works!

Fashion:

1.) Jeans or Sweat Pants: Jeans
2.) Long Sleeves or Short Sleeves: Long - I love chilly weather!
3.) Dress or Skirt: Both
4.) Scarves or Hat: Scarves
5.) Studs or Dangling Earring: I love wearing danglies and hoops!
6.) Necklace or Bracelet: Both!
7.) Heels or Flats: Usually flats, but heels when I'm going out.
8.) Cowboy Boots or Riding Boots: Hmm, I wear a lot of boots, but not in either of these styles.
9.) Jackets or Hoodies: Hoodies
10.) Forever 21 or Charlotte Russe: Charlotte Russe

Hair:

1.) Curly or Straight: I almost always curl it when I'm going somewhere
2.) Bun or Ponytail: Ponytail
3.) Bobby Pins or Butterfly Clips: Bobby Pins!
4.) Hairspray or Gel: Definitely hairspray!
5.) Long or Short: Long
6.) Dark or Light: Dark
7.) Side Swept Bangs or Fully Bangs: Mine are grown out, but I'd say side swept
8.) Up or Down: Down

Random:

1.) Rain or Shine: I like both!
2.) Summer or Winter: Winter
3.) Fall or Spring: Fall!!
4.) Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate

People I tag:
All Night Beauty
Kate Spitz
Nature with a Little Nurture
Lipgloss on my Latte

If you do this tag, leave me a comment with a link! :) I'd love to read your answers!

Have a wonderful day!

<3 Vanessa

New Jordana Stuff!

     Hi Everyone! I went to my local Walgreens today with the hopes that they would have some of the new Jordana products that everyone's been talking about. They did! The display was fully stocked and had everything that I had in mind to try. Here's what I got:

• Twist & Shine Moisturizing Balm Stain in Sweet Pink  - this is so beautiful! Just like the name says, very moisturizing and staining.
• Fabuliner - the new Bold one - sorry about the weird swatches. I was playing around with it, trying to get it darker, and then laying it more flat to get the bold line. The first two swatches I built up to get a darker line, the third swatch is just one swipe. I'm kind of disappointed that it's not jet black without going back over it.
• Two 12 Hr Made to Last Eyeshadow Pencils - Endless Emerald and Prolong Purple - these are absolutely gorgeous! Awesome pigmentation with a little shimmer. I haven't worn them on my eyes yet, but the swatches on my hand did not come off with hand soap, so that's a good sign!

     This little haul is just another example of the awesome benefits of being a part of the beauty community. I can't tell you how many times I've walked past the Jordana display with barely a second glance, until I started watching videos and reading blogs where so many of their products are raved about! It just goes to show that price doesn't always matter when it comes to quality!

     Have any of you gotten any of the new products yet? Are there any other Jordana products that I should try? I'm thinking about doing a future post of a look featuring all four of these products!

     Have a wonderful day!

<3 Vanessa

Bath and Body Works Haul

     Hi Everyone! It's getting to be my one of my favorite times of the year! I love it when summer starts winding down, the nights are a little cooler, and you can see just the slightest tint of color starting to come to the leaves. Another favorite of mine - Bath and Body Works hand soaps. There is just something about that bottle of good smelling cuteness sitting on my sink. :) Bath and Body Works is really in the full swing of unveiling their fall scents, but I'm not quite ready to dive into all the pumpkin and spice. As much as I adore autumn, it is still August after all! So I got on the website (armed with my free shipping code) with the goal of getting stocked up on late summer/early autumn scents. I think I did pretty good. :)

     From left to right:

• Vermont Sugar Maple - the name says it all, it really does smell like sugary maple.
• Seattle Hazelnut Latte - this smells like a really creamy hazelnut. I wish I could smell the coffee/espresso more, I can't really detect it at all. Still like it though!
• Aspen Autumn Day - I'm not usually the world's biggest fan of yellow, but I really love the color of this! It really reminds me of a bright fall day. :) The smell is kind of hard to describe, it's almost like a very bright earthy scent. I was kind of hoping it would smell like fall leaves, but it definitely doesn't. Still a fan though!
• Heirloom Pear - Love this!! I think it's my favorite of the bunch. I really have a thing for pear scents done right, and this is! If you picked up or got to smell the Fresh Picked Pear scent from earlier in the summer, this smells a lot like that, only sweeter. I have this one in my bathroom right now.
• Heirloom Cranberries - this is my least favorite. The only scent I'm really getting from it is an artificial cherry.
• Honeycrisp Apple - this is one of my favorite varieties of apples to eat, and the scent didn't let me down! It's a nice slightly sweet apple scent.
• Scarlet Pumpkin - this smells just like pumpkin cake - delicious!!
• Farmstand Apple - a lot like the Honeycrisp, only a little stronger and not quite as sweet. This one's currently at my kitchen sink. :)
• The leaf in front is a Wallflower plug in. I currently have three Wallflowers scattered throughout my house, and absolutely love them!! They have so many scents to choose from, both permanent and seasonal. They make my house smell so good! I got this beautiful bronzey maple leaf to change out one of my other plug ins, I'll probably switch it at the beginning of September. They also have a pumpkin one, I plan on getting that one to use further into fall.

    
     Overall, I am so pleased with everything I got! Bath and Body Works rarely lets me down! They have such awesome products, wonderful scents, and good sales going on all the time!
    
     If you're a fan of Bath and Body Works, I would highly recommend signing up for their email newsletter. Not only will they alert you of sales, but they'll also frequently send out coupon codes for free or $1 shipping, or a percentage off of your order. Usually there's a $25 minimum for the codes, but don't ever find it a problem with getting my total to that. :)
    
     What are some of your favorite scents from Bath and Body? Have you stared transitioning your scents into Autumn, or do you use ones you like year round, regardless of the season? Have a wonderful day!

<3 Vanessa

*I am in no way affiliated with Bath and Body Works, and bought everything with my own money.

Maybelline Color Show Polka Dots

   

   
     Hi Everyone! I wanted to share with you a little gem I found a few days ago - the Maybelline Color Show "Polka Dots" line! These are awesome! I'm not sure how new they are - I don't usually linger too long over the Color Show polishes, as I've only ever had one and was disappointed with it. But as I was scoping out the makeup aisle, this polish in Pretty in Polka really caught my eye! One of my go-to looks for my nails is to accent either my ring fingers, or my ring fingers and thumbs, with glitter or designs. When I saw this, I knew it would make the perfect accent! :) The polish itself is a very sheer pinky-purple, but the stars of the show are the little polka dots through out - they are just so darn cute! The dots are matte black and matte white, and they come in tiny circles, medium sized hexagons, and a few larger hexagons scattered through out.

Worn over Wet n Wild Megalast in Through the Grapevine

     The formula of this polish is so easy to work with. I was able to get the look you see in the pictures with just one coat, and I didn't have to go fishing around, trying to place the dots just right. They just kinda naturally fell into place and looked great!
    
     If I remember right, I think there were four other shades in this line - there could be more, though. I remember a blue and a teal, which were beautiful, but probably not ones I'll pick up just because I tend not to wear those colors too much on my nails. There were two others that I definitely am going to get, one had little black and white dots, and another was browns, tans, and whites if I remember right. I think that one will be perfect for fall!
    
     I seriously am in love with this polish! Hopefully they all have the same beautiful formula as the one I have. If they do, they are well worth trying out in my opinion.

<3 Vanessa

Almay Liquid Lip Balm Review

    

Top to Bottom: Blooming Balm, Apricot Pucker, Rosy Lipped

     Hi Everyone! I wanted to pass along my review of the new(ish) Almay Color + Care Liquid Lip Balms. I love these things! To me, they are just the perfect lip gloss. They're slightly on the creamy side, not as glassy and super super shiny as other formulas. (Although they still pack a lot of shine!) Here's what Almay has to say about them:

A lifesaver for your lips! NEW Almay Color + Care™ Liquid Lip Balm combines the lip conditioning care of a balm with the shiny color of your favorite gloss. Shiny color drenches lips with 2X hydration* as lip-loving conditioners provide 194% more moisture for softer, smoother lips over time. Non-sticky. gluten free. Hypoallergenic. Dermatologist tested.
*vs. bare lips

Source: Almay.com

 

     I would have to say that I agree with about everything that they said! They definitely feel very moisturizing on the lips (although I always think it's kinda funny when they come up with numbers like 194%...so specific!). The texture is very creamy and not drying at all. Even though these balms/glosses (whatever you prefer to call them:)) aren't sticky, I still think they have pretty good staying power. Be aware though, they won't really stay on through eating, and there's no staining effect, so reapplication is necessary throughout the day. That's what I expect with most lip products though, so it's not a problem for me. The website describes the color as sheer, which I agree with, especially on the lighter shades. They can be worn alone, and also look great paired with a lip liner. Another plus about these is that they are really quite inexpensive compared to other drugstore glosses. They are priced at $4.48 at my local Wal-Mart, and quite a few times I've been able to get a $1 off coupon, making them only $3.48! I haven't priced them at drugstores, but my guess is that they're a few dollars more there.

 

     There are ten colors in the collection, and I have three. I really want to own the whole collection! Maybe I'll do another blog post when I reach that goal! :) The three I have are Blooming Balm, Apricot Pucker, and Rosy Lipped.

     Here are the swatches in the same order as above.

     Overall, I am very impressed with these glosses! If you're like me and prefer your glosses a little on the creamy side, I would definitely pick one or two up to try!

<3 Vanessa