Beauty School (Dropout)

By the end of last year, I had run out of products and was using what I had lying around or could afford at the time. Since it is a new year, I did get some small little helpers that I severely needed. Some of these things I am just trying out and others are tried and true products. 

1. Stila Eyeshadow. I used to use Stila all the time (favorite color: Kitten) but for some reason or another just stopped using them all together. Cut to this past Christmas and the Stila Eyeshadow Full Palette I received as a gift. Now I am back on the Stila train in a big way. I forgot how much fun it was to experiment with eye colors. This palette really got me out of a rut that I was in for a very long time. I couldn't find a pic online of the actual case, so I just used a singular eyeshadow as a place marker. 

2. Pur Mineral Foundation. I used Bare Minerals like most everyone out there and liked it but it would wear off and as my face got more marks on it, the harder it was to cover. I was surfing around online at who knows where and I ran across this brand. The reviews seemed to be pretty good so I thought that I would give it go last June before the trip to Europe. I am so happy I tried because it can definitely cover and bonus: it's pressed powder so I can carry it in my purse easier than that big block of Bare Minerals loose powder pot (I do still like Bare Minerals Bronzer though). I ran out of the Pur Mineral foundation I had a couple months ago and finally bought another one this past weekend. Wow, what I was missing in my life! I should never go that long again. 

3. Estee Lauder Signature Lipstick in Copper Coral. I love this red-orangey shade. It's so hard for me to wear a blue red, so this one works on me. Full disclosure: I am thinking about cheating on this lipstick with Nars Heat Wave, but I'm sure that I will be back to this because I know that it works. So easy to throw on when I don't have time (or more accurately, too lazy) to put on full makeup. I just put this on and feel instantly more put together. 

4. Benefit It's Potent Eye Cream. I bought this when I had run out of my previous eye cream and was walking by Benefit on Third Street and it called to me. I decided to take the plunge and try a new one that I hadn't yet heard about. Turns out, it ended up being pretty good and keeps my eyes cool and refreshed. Also, I'm partial to the very cute packaging. I completely judged this book by its cover and it worked (that also works for wine most of the time, I definitely judge by label art). 

5. Mario Badescu Face Wash and Toner (Special Cleansing Lotion C). This are my newest additions to the mix and the ones I am desperately hoping works. I have problem skin and it is only getting worse. I go to a dermatologist yearly and am devoted to my prescribed day and night regimen but my skin was still getting worse. What the hell?! I have already heard about this line and I was hopeful but never tried it out. I was at Ulta last weekend buying my foundation (see above) when I ran across this and saw how many products they have for my type of skin. Wow, finally! I perused all the bottles in the section that would help me out (there are many more products from them for other types of skin) and bought the face wash and toner since I was out of my normal products of this same nature. I still am in the testing phase of this so we'll see the outcome. So far so good. I did go on the website and see all the celebrity endorsements (including personal fav Jen Aniston) so thinking there is something to this (she does not do many endorsements without her true approval, no kim-kardashian-I-will-hawk-anything with her).

6. Clinique Lash Doubling Mascara. Truthfully I got a sample of this and I don't even remember how I got it, but I threw it in my purse so that I can use on the go. After work one night, I applied this over my long day's worth of Lash Stiletto Mascara from Maybelline and what a difference. So I know it sounds a little weird, but now everyday I use both mascaras. One coat of the Lash Stiletto and one of the Clinique Lash Doubling. Truly I could use anything for the first coat, but what a difference when I put on the Lash Doubling. I will need to buy a full size one soon. 


I am definitely not anywhere near a beauty expert, but these certainly do help me out when I need it.


-J

A Place for Everything and Everything in it's Place

I don't really make New Years Resolutions (and stick to them for that matter) but I do have goals that I've been wanting to accomplish so I figure why not now in the new year. First and foremost, I want to get our apartment more organized and clean. This will be an especially big feat when it comes to my closet and dresser, so my plan is to do a little bit by little bit. This weekend, I'm thinking that I will tackle my sweaters which were once neatly housed in a hanging sweater holder in the closet but now seem like that same sweater holder threw up all over itself so it is now a tower of knitted mess. I also figure the linen closet could be an easy fix. I found some cute lidded boxes online at Ikea that will serve as great organizers, so I'm eager to get those sometime soon. I will have an organized life someday, but for now it will just be baby steps. Some linen closet inspiration below.

Sources: 1&2, 3

The Ikea boxes I'm planning on purchasing, link here

So here's to getting in order, which hopefully spills over to all aspects in my life.

-J

Musings of a Holiday Past

Yes I know, I haven't touched this blog in awhile. Actually it feels like forever ago. Since we went on break at work, I guess I decided to go on a break from everything well, computer related. And truthfully... it felt great. But now I'm back and hope to document our lives slightly more regularly.

This past holiday was full of....

El Carmen fish tacos (yummy)...The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo...Wine and more wine...Little Next Door (double yummy)...Fondue at home (love my fondue set, thanks Mom!)...B's family Xmas Eve Dinner (so funny)...J's family Xmas Eve later dinner (had wayyyy too much to drink in onesies)...J's family Xmas Morning...(cozy, warm Oprah Xmas)...B's family Xmas dinner (so much love and laugh.. and amazing Grandma's brownies)...Mom's bday dinner (Maggiano's Italian goodness)...walks to the library...walks to waffles..walks on third...more walks everywhere...movies at home...Farmer's Market sangria and bombas...happy hours...Ahi Sushi (our xmas gift to each other)...Bao dim sum and $2 beers...sunshine...New Years Eve and New Years Day at Mel and Mike's (with sparklers and hats)... Friends hanging out...leaving pics of Mel and Mike throughout their house so they run across them randomly in the years to come.

It certainly is hard to get back into the swing of things after all that. :)

-J

Holiday Overwhelm (in a good way)

So much holiday happenings this past week. Last Thursday was the West. 3rd st. Holiday Party. The stores open their doors with yummies and treats for all (including rose champagne at one amazing establishment). I was a little shameless (to Brian's annoyance) of my partaking in the free goodies. "Well then whats the point of putting it out if no one is going to take it" was my response as I quickly walked in, grabbed a beverage, took the obligatory gander around the front half of the store and made my way onto another.  I seem to remember that he wasn't above trying everything at Jones on Third. Later,  B and I had to stop off at the dress-up photo booth/bench creating that stunner above, ha. Stilt walkers dressed up in holiday costumes strolled around, which to be honest is quite frightening to me sometimes. Kinda borders along that whole clown phobia which was instilled in me from awful horror movies like Killer Clowns from Outer Space and I think also some scary stories from Unsolved Mysteries (remember that gem of a show?). All in all, it was fun to enjoy the atmosphere and the holiday spirit. Saturday night we celebrated Brian's sister's one year anniversary at her boutique, Luscious Soul in Thousand Oaks. She does such a great job picking out clothes, house decorations, jewelry and all sorts of fun stuff. I was in heaven. Brian bought me a beautiful bracelet and I scored myself a black day dress with wrap belt (so perfect for my strolls around 3rd st.). She's done such an amazing job with the store and everyone was out to support. Afterwards we had to head down to Newport Beach for an Christmas Party with some friends. Tina and Matt, the hosts, have been fixing up their home for the past year and the work really paid off. It looks incredible. After that festive jaunt, we stayed the night at Mike and Mel's house so we can all head down to the Charger game together for Sunday Funday. We won, so of course made for a great day and we also managed to see a web video celebrity ("What What in the Butt" music video featured on Tosh.0).
Needless to say, we had a fun weekend but definitely were exhausted. Just starting to get back in the swing of things and thankfully so as B and I have a three day weekend to spend in San Diego. Here we go again. :)

Blurry, but wanted you to see the scary festive stilt walkers

-J

Christmas Soiree

Christmas season was officially started last Saturday as we gathered together our friends for a little shindig. We had so much fun. Well to be quite honest, too much fun. I'm pretty sure I blinked and it was 4:30 in the morning. There were so many laughs especially with the white elephant gift exchange, spontaneous dancing all over the place and drinks were spilled everywhere, but all in good fun. The girls did a fabulous job of decorating, the tree looked perfect. My favorite part of the night though was when I got to hand out my homemade gifts to my friends. It meant a lot to me and I think that they all really liked them (can't explain more as there are a few more to be given out). It makes me want to make my gifts every year since I had such a good time creating them and it gave me more enjoyment to give. I will share more about them once they're all out in the open. :)
There were more people later, but we didn't really use the camera once the party was in full swing:

The girls

The boys

My gifts all wrapped and ready to go

-J

Rocking Around A Non-Existant Christmas Tree

Source

I went with my friend Lindsay on Tuesday night to get the Christmas tree for the girls' apartment to get ready for the party. I am a die-hard Noble Fir tree buyer, Douglas Firs be damned (sorry if you like those kind, just not my cup of tea). This year however there was a new type of tree that popped up: a Nordman Fir. Apparently this tree is popular in Europe, but I had never heard of it. Basically all I can gather is that it looks like a high quality Noble Fir. Love! The needles have almost a sheen to them and it is very strong and full. Honestly, I don't think the two of us could have picked out a better tree (and trust me, we have bought a couple trees together and have run the gamut).  While we were there, I saw a couple taking home a cute 3' - 4' tree. I wasn't going to get one for Brian and I, but I'm thinking that this was pretty doable and am now making plans in my head to pick one up this weekend.

-J

Thanksgiving Love

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I got to spend time with my mom and sister which was nice (the two and a half hour traffic to get down there, not so nice). Of course there was yummy food and drinks although my sweet potato dish turned out very lackluster. I will definitely try something else next year. After the food, I rolled myself to the car and drove up to pet-sit at my Dad's house. Always so fun for me to be surrounded by animals and fortunately Blinky, their cat, was ready to have some love and comfort from me. Every time I sat down she wanted to be right there with me. Moving around once I was sitting was not prohibited and I was given quick, snappy meows each time I tried. I even got the evil eye when I turned the pages loudly on the catalog I was trying to look at. But oh how I loved every minute of it. The boys (their two dogs) were giving me the cutest looks and did their best sleepy, can't-get-out-of-bed-in-the-morning snuggles in the morning. It was so much fun, hope I get to head down there again soon.

-J