I love makeup. I'm not particularly great at makeup, but I like it.
I like trying out new things, I like finding new products, I like making my skin feel better.

When I moved to Dallas I had a coworker who loved makeup, too.
She moved on to a different job -- and so now I'm sharing all my finds with you!

Bit by bit I've been trying to remove parabens and sulfates from a lot of my makeup.
I'm allergic to sulfur, so this one was a no brainer. And it's made a HUGE difference.

Here's what I'm loving right now...

// 1 // This eyeshadow is MAGIC. I have the UD Naked palette and it's okay, but this thing is amazing. Every color is super wearable for everyday life. Even that hot pink ends up a soft pinkish nude on. The only one I have a hard time wearing is the deep blue. I've only worn it as eyeliner thus far.

// 2 // I'm a mascara addict. I love mascara. It's the one cosmetic I can't leave without. My short, stubby, blonde eyelashes need the help. And THIS does it. I've tried so many mascaras, all of them seem to have big flaws. One clumps, another leaves epic smudges, the third you can't wash off, the next is so brittle....you get the picture. So far, the only problem with this one is sometimes after a long day I have a little smudge. I have greasy eyes, so this is not a huge surprise. But it makes my eyelashes look SO full. Plus it's opthamologist approved, so it's safe for your eyes.

// 3 // I challenged myself to be a little more daring in 2016 and this includes lipstick. I got a sample of 5 colors of this lipstick in my Gwen Stefani palette, and it is so good. It's truly long-lasting. I wore mine all day, eating, drinking, chapsticking and never reapplying and I still had some color left at the end of the day. I immediately went and bought a tube. I like the 'Firebird' fuchsia color and the 'Spiderwebs' red is the best red lipstick I've found.

// 4 // This is what I wear most days. It's the best light pink color, and looks so natural. Plus it has a hint of mint in it...which is awesome. This shade is 'Smooth Talker.' (I always think of this when I buy it.) I've gifted it to several people because it's truly the best gloss I own.

// 5 // This is my favorite natural blush. It's paraben free, cruelty free, and so nice on your face. 'Glisten' looks good on just about everyone.

// 6 // This is a cult favorite and one of mine, too. I recently bought it after using up a whole Tarte blush. I really like this one, it always makes my face looked flush in the right shade. But, I may go back to the other when this one's done.

// 7 // Last, but definitely not least, my new favorite foundation. It's essentially a tinted moisturizer/BB cream, but it's got staying power like no other. My skin really did get better after I started using this. And it's cooling, so it feels great in the morning. The one weird thing is it starts to dry quickly when you begin spreading it -- make sure you cover your face before that happens.

I want to hear what you're loving!
Share your favorites with me, I always need new ideas!

xoxo.

Being Beautiful on a Budget

Hello there friends!
How are your weeks going?

I thought today we'd talk about beauty blogs. My friends, I love beauty blogs/products/chatter, which is mildly ironic because I don't really wear much makeup and have super super super thick hair making a lot of hair tips kind of moot points for me.

But, my friends, I don't have the budget to love all the things many beauty bloggers love. Lemme tell you, I big puffy heart MAC and Sephora (confession: I would own Bare Minerals whole collection if I could, best foundation I've ever used, if you can afford it--do it.) but it's just not realistic for me.

So if you're in my cheapo boat, I thought I'd share some of my favorite penny-pinching pretty-fiers.

1. Frizz-Ease Mousse: I love this mousse for when I want a more defined wave to my hair. Scrunches like NONE OTHER. My go-to curly hair product and has been for 5+ years now.
2. Dove Dry Shampoo: This is a recent find and it's incredible. The smell is awesome and not overwhelming, it doesn't leave that weird white film in your hair, it makes your hair feel cleaner, and it's less than $5, so if it gets clogged (like all my dry shampoos are prone to do) I'm not weeping that I "spent so much money" on it, because I didn't.
3. Shimmer Strips: These were shown to me by the lovely Liz, and I love it. It's the less expensive version of a blush/bronzer combo like my old Nars one and make you look just as pretty. I love just the little bit of natural looking I've-just-been-in-the-sun-picnicing color it gives you.
4. Falsies Flared: This is my favorite drugstore mascara, but it has to be the "Flared" version. Adds length and volume to my poor nubbin lashes. It also doesn't make my lashes fall out, which cheap mascara is wont to do.
5. Dream Curls: This is the best soft curls spray I've found yet. It lets my hair stay wavy, but soft and un-crunchified (remember gel-ed curls of the 90s/early-00s? sad hair time for moi). And all it takes is some spritzing, some scrunching and if you'd like a little blowdry. I personally just let mine air dry.
6. Moroccan Oil Conditioner: BEST. CONDITIONER. EVER. Makes my hair so soft, silky and NOT greasy I'm still amazed it hasn't become mandatory for women everywhere. It makes my hair so easy to run your hands through, and two days without washing is not even remote grease-ville. (I don't wash my hair everyday ever. It makes it like hay.)
7. Silicone Headbands: Comfy, cute, and so easy to reposition throughout the day. Plus I got a pack of 4 for $5.00, unheard of.
8. Dream Mousse Foundation: Great coverage, doesn't feel like your wearing makeup, and looks natural because it's a mousse not a powder or complete liquid. I've also bought the kind in the little pot before and I really like that one, too.
9. Polish Strips: AWESOME. AWESOME. AWESOME. AWESOME. Easy to use, fun to wear, and dude they stay on for like 2 weeks no prob (especially the glitter ones) which is way longer than what I'm used to polish-wise.
10. Fresh Vanillas Body Spray: Found this just last week and it smells AMAZING. In fact, I'm ready to convert all my friends and family ... well at least the ladies, to this scent. Light, fresh, and doesn't give you a fragrance-headache during allergy season and that, my friends, is a huge WIN.

Got any beauty buys you love?
I'd love to share them with everyone! (With credit, of course.)

xoxo.

i'm diggin.

Hola, mi amigos! Como estan?
I hope the answer to that is super duper bueno. (Why, yes, I do speak Spanglish, thanks for asking!)

My brain is fried (or frita) due to writing lots and lots at work, along with doing all my other job stuff. Sometimes I feel like the only things I've paid attention to all day are if I'm wearing pants, and the CNN Newsfeed.

So, I thought I'd share with you some of the things helping me get through my days lately:

gettin through by notlobs featuring wrap tops

1. I love this sweater. Mine actually doesn't have the Fair Isle pattern, just gray and black stripes, but I did get it for $8 at Old Navy and, well, I'll love just about anything for 8 bucks.
2. Fold Over Yoga Pants, also from Old Navy, are a blessing. Like manna from heaven. They're so comfy and just the perfect solution for my end of day not wanting to wear real clothes attitude.
3. I know, I know. I hated them, and then I bought a pair and now I have 2. And I love them. They're so comfy and warm for my still-air-conditioned office.
4. The Kindle Fire. Um, best invention ever. I love it. I almost don't use my regular computer when I'm at home. I can read, watch videos, listen to music, tweet, use the internet. It's awesome.
5. Ah, my phone, my insight to the outside world.
6. Okay, have y'all discovered this show yet? It's like a 2012 Friends, plus their characters are so well developed you really end up loving all of them for their individual quirks.
7. Um, yogurt is the food of the gods. And my favorite recent foray into breakfast.
8. Sierra Mist. My medium between water (blech) and Diet Coke (because I'm still trying to avoid drinking loads of it).
9. Best.headbands.ever. Don't slide much, hold my hair back without giving me a headache, and are cheap. YES.
10. Best winter lotion in the world. Trust me. Spend the $4 (better per ounce than any fancy lotion), and give it 2 days applying it twice a day and you will notice the difference.
11. Um, so I've also become a Maybelline believer. This stuff is so good, so natural, and it doesn't feel like I'm wearing anything. Plus on days when I don't wear makeup, that mascara makes all the difference. Falsies, I believe in your ability to make my non-lashes look stellar.

So, what are you guys diggin lately?
xoxo.

i want:

I've been nursing a really heinous head cold for most of this week.

(still worth kissing the sick boyfriend.)

Ew. I sound a little like a man, a little like Fran Drescher.

So sitting here sick on my couch, all I really want is: 

 my snuggly trailblazers blanket 

my even snugglier boyfriend 

a steamed apple cider from starbucks 

to be snuggled up somewhere like this: 

with a good book
and my super snuggly boyfriend

my favorite sweatpants 

a really comfy worn-in boyfriend-y sweater 

some french toast 

and hashbrowns smothered in cheese

oh, and did i mention, my super snuggly boyfriend? 

him, too. 

(being sick has left both of us mucho under-snuggled) 

(scary...or sicky...)

xoxox.

my stylin sister

My little sister is the cutest.

Seriously. It's no contest.

See? 'Aint she adorable?!!

Well this cute little girl lives 3,000 miles away from me.

And she has for a little more than 6 years now.

Still, we talk to each other every night before she goes to bed. 

And in a real display of sweetness -- she babysat for a whole day, saved her money and bought me this shirt:
 

because she knows how much I love Diet coke. 

Cutest little sister EVER.

xoxox.

puppy dog eyes...

I walked outside Best Buy today to find these little guys gazing at me: 

Anyone know what kind of dogs they are? 

They look like miniature huskies.

I'm kinda in love.

xoxo.

little bit of this... little bit of that...

I've been absent from the blogging world. 

Because, my friends, as the Lovely Liz puts it: 

"Real life trumps blog."

So I've been out livin life, working, having fun, loving, dating (same boy), smiling, laughing,

and BEING.

Oh, and obsessively watching NCIS. 

Not a show that would generally be up my alley ... I'm seriously into this show. Like USA has marathons and I have them all DVR-ed into this show. I'm becoming pseudo friends with Gibbs, McGee, Ziva, Abbey, Ducky, and DiNozzo. (Aaaand it doesn't hurt that the characters are endearing beyond measure.) It's smart, it's intriguing, and it sucks. you. the. freak. in. I love trying to piece together the clues as the team does. And the way Abby and McGee can piece together forensics ... makes me want to be a forensic scientist.
(I just with USA would play them in order.)

It might make me a serious old lady -- but I LOVE The View. (Helps that I work at ABC and can watch at work.) 50 cent was on The View today...and it was awesome. He talked about his dramatic weight loss for a movie (seriously, check out the pictures (he went from 214 pounds to 160)) ... and how he's gained it back. You can see the segment here.

Gabby got me thinking about this next part -- but seriously, these things need to be recommended. 

I don't think I've ever posted a picture of my hair all curly ...but trust me -- I have quite the mane. I am always on a quest to find a shampoo I'll really love that'll take good care of my hair (when it's straight and curly), will keep my color/highlights vibrant, smells nice, and won't break the bank. I think, my friends, I've found it. 

The Dove Color Repair shampoo is AMAZING. It's light, it doesn't weigh my curls down, and it smells AMAZING. Honestly, I have mousse in my hair right now and my hair is still very soft and my curls look great even though I barely scrunched them.

I have tried mascaras from SO many different companies. And I love this stuff more than I loved my high price mascaras.

I get fairly greasy under my eyes by the end of the day (especially when it's hot) and I can honestly say the only times I've seen this smudge is when I've been really sweaty, or after sleeping with it on. I love Maybelline mascara...and this one DEFINITELY continues that love. And after my last AWFUL mascara ...  it's a breath of fresh air. My eyelashes don't get clumpy, which is great because I have so few, and it makes them look LONGGGGGG. I freaking LOVE this stuff. 

Also my sunburn is peeling/has peeled a lot and it is ITCHIN like crazy! I lotion it everyday -- but it doesn't help. Anyone got any remedies for itchy burnt skin?

And I finally got my perfect pair of mirrored aviators. I've searched for weeks (and after dropping my sunglasses in the river) I found ones I LOVE. I'll take a picture next time I'm in my car with them. 

How about y'all. How are you?

xoxox.

ruler for a day the red sox mama

I met my dear friend Ruth through her adorable husband Drew. Drew and I were in the same program at BYU and he's from Boston, too...so instant connection. THEN I met Ruth. I love this freaking lady. She's funny, smart, REALLY creative and artistic, determined, and one heck of a runner to boot. Plus she's gonna be a momma soon!! Yay new rex soxian!

Ruth said:

1. I am married to Drew Dowling , conosseur of all things New England and Red Sox.
2. I have the best job in the world...teaching art to high schoolers!
3. I ran a race every month for 13 months straight, including 2 half marathons.
4. I can rock curly AND straight hair.
5. I graduated BYU with one major in the time it took Anna to graduate with two :) (wait, I guess that would be why SHE rocks!)
6. I AM growing a little human being inside of me :)
7. I LOVE reading... and am almost always in the process of reading at least 3 books.
8. I have a cat that plays fetch.
9. Did I mention Drew Dowling? Best decision I ever made.
10. I'm half Chilean. That means, yes, I can understand my students who mutter spanish expletives under their breath :)


If you wanna tell me why YOU RULE, I'll do it til everyone realizes how awesome they are. Just click on the cute little bear!

awesomespice.

So I've sat here staring at this screen for several minutes ... not knowing what to say at all.

First, I cannot figure out why I'm still awake when I have to be up at 8:30 and got only 3 hours of sleep last night and worked and stayed up late, AGAIN.

My brain seriously needs to calm down and shut down.

It's still zip zip zipping.  

A LOT. 

Second, even though my brain is all aflutter .... my body is exhausted.

{I promise this won't all be about sleep.}

I keep yawning like a loon. A still awake loon.

My body says "Hey crazy lady, we're trying to tell you you're tired. NOW LISTEN."

Third, I need inspiration for how to cut my hair.

I'm officially getting it cut on Saturday {the first time in a YEAR}.

Now I'm trying to figure out if/how much of it to cut off and what shape I want.

Also, we all know I love blog giveaways done by my loving friends.

I think they're just completely great.

But I'm starting to believe I should only enter ones that have to do with hair products/accessories -- because they're the only ones I win.

And that's okay with me, I'm SO not complaining.

I DEFINITELY didn't complain when I won this little beauty:

"Pinkspice" made by Miss Lauren over at Busy Bee Lauren {check out her headband shop}.

Fifth -- I needed some more work wear {i.e. skirts} and I'm pretty IN LOVE with Old Navy's $15 skirt sale right now. But I accidentally returned the wrong one today (I needed to change some sizes like on the GIANT cardigan I bought) so I'm gonna have to go back and get that one. Yay for cute work clothes.

Sixth, I want spring/summer. NOW. I'm sick of gray skies and rain. I want pretty Oregon again.

Lastly, please please PLEASE check out this AMAZING video my friend Natalie's little sister posted on her Facebook this week. Makes me SO happy. It's epic.

sigh. oh disney princesses. oh mean girls. oh GENIUS.

Happy Friday! Happy Weekend!
{Happy My Haircut, Room Clean, Crafting, Happiness weekend!!}
xoxo.

I Want Wednesday

I'M IN A REALLY BAD MOOD.

So I'm doing this to make me happy.

{in any small way it can}

Lately I'm craving BETTER storage in my room for some of my clothes and odds and ends.

I can't seem to find exactly what I'm looking for though.

Here's the basic concept:

But I'd prefer if the shelves were black or white.

With these kinds of bins:

Both from Pottery Barn Teen.

{bins 1 and bins 2}

I found these here. I LOVE them. 

Puzzle Pieces have a very very special meaning in my life -- so I've kind of become a connoisseur of puzzle piece paraphernalia. 

PLUS you can make a giant sandwich of a whole bunch of other ones!

And these shoes. I have a thing for Vans laceups lately. And I love love love love love those slip on flats at the bottom. And apparently I love the same colors for everything. Except the green and yellow ones -- totally belong to my growing duck pride.

Also, I need more cardigans.

I have a bunch of long ones -- I need some waist length ones, too.

I'm having a hard time finding ones I like.  Here are a few:

granted, the last one is a jacket ... but i LOVE it. 

three sweaters -- old navy. jacket -- shade clothing.

What do you want this Wednesday? 

xoxo.

showin off my feetsees

One of my favorite bloggers, Nicole over at My Teacups In Peony, has started a weekly posting trend I REALLY LOVE.

I LOVE FEET PHOTOS. 

I take a lot of them. 

In fact, last night I went to take one of my new highlighter pink toesies ... but my camera battery is dead. 

Woh Wohhhh. hahahaha. 

So here's my Tuesday feet photo.

Me and miss Lyndsi Shae at the coast when she visited last April. 

She's the super tan one ... I'm the ghost white one (yay pasty!). 

I love love love the coast. I have so many pictures of my feet in the water. LOVE IT.

winner, winner, blog friends should come to dinner!

So...I have 51 followers!

How/when did that happen!?!

It's AWESOME. 

And only a portion of you know me in real life ... and for that I am sorry!

{I keed ... I keed.}

I'm actually sorry I don't know you all of you in real life.

You seem are awesome.

I can tell.

So, because we don't get to see each other all the time ... I'm gonna do something fun. 

ASK ME ANYTHING.

Seriously. Anything.

{within reason -- no social security #s my friends, sorry.} 

And I will answer it.

All you non-commenters and lurkers -- come on out. 

I wanna get to know you!

And I want you got get to know me!
But friends, don't be shy, feel free to ask away, too! 

So, ask away my dears.

And I will answer!

xoxox.

nothing tastes as good as john mayer feels ...

I suck at Twitter.

I mostly use it for minor celeb stalking following (when I actually remember I even have a Twitter).

Anyway ... one of my favorite celebs to read updates from is none other than

John Mayer. (@johncmayer)

I really enjoy John's music ... but beyond his incredible musical and lyrical (seriously, GO GET BATTLE STUDIES. NOW.) talents the man is FREAKING HILARIOUS.

Seriously.

Here are a few of my recent favorites -- you'll see, he's a funny guy.

@SkyMall I gave my lawyer the painting of the wolves with inspiring mantra on Leadership. Framed. Cause I'm fancy.

Nobody seems to think a gift certificate for catalogs.com is strange? You might as well say "I"m sure that I know nothing about you."

@taylorswift13 let's bedazzle something!

If you're shocked that Britney was lip-syncing at her concert and want your money back, life may continue to be hard for you.

This is the part in a line of interviews where I want to start making answers up. So if you read that I breed alpacas, go with it.

I'm in Australia on Halloween. It's like turning out your porch light times a billion.

If you want to go out and buy an entire case of AA batteries, I say more power to you.

This unfortunate media display involving balloon boy undermines the hundreds of boys and girls actually lost to balloon flight every year.

All cookies are sugar cookies.

Dove bar soap is 1/4 moisturizer. That's why Dove bar soap is allowed to make moisturizer jokes and you're not.

See?! And seriously. Get Battle Studies. It's GORGEOUS. This song makes my heart smile.

Now I'm going to leave you with one of my favorite Mayer moments.

Mmmmmmmmmm. I think I like it better than the original.

xoxoxo.

it tells a thousand words...

i heart pictures.

and ever since joining the blogging community -- i've become more obsessed and enthralled with looking at, enjoying, and finding pictures.

so, in my lame cop-out post ... i'm going to show you some i think are wonderful.

little insights into my psyche.

{the apparent theme of the past few days...}

i love these houses.

they're sooo pretty and so many different colors.

this is a favorite picture of mine.

I love this piece. It's by Kurt Halsey.

And it's called:

About A Boy.

I LOVE that. Totally true. I can see her getting all cute and putting on a nice outfit -- and I think the butterflies are a great touch.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

This slays me. I seriously laughed for like a minute when I saw this.

{i do not endorse actually eating turtles.}

Pretty, pretty, pretty. And fun. I love this. And her ensemble. I want. I want. I want.

this is important to me. i love this. for so many reasons.

♥my puzzle piece.♥

i love you, barkley.

isn't this pretty? i love this. i want a print.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH. So many people have wayyyyy too much time on their hands.

but this is HYSTERICAL.

i think this is so tender. and so creative.

i want to hang out with this little girl. this is so funny!

i have an obsession with fake mustaches.

i have literally laughed out loud about 5 times just this afternoon while looking at this picture.

it's the baby. it kills me!!!

I think India is GORGEOUS. The colors, the culture, I love it. Bollywood? Dank.

I think that in their culture they appreciate color --and vibrant color, at that -- a lot more than we do. I love saris. I think they're gorgeous and I think they make women look gorgeous. This picture is amazing.

{gorgeous}

the other reason i've been laughing all afternoon.

i think this is true. {mine is ryan.}

i think this would make a great framed print.

{i have a thing for pictures of doors, i get it from my dad. i have a collection at home in boston.}

HA! fun. fun. and more fun.

star wars humor mixed with dairy = humor milkshake. aweeeesome.

I hope you enjoyed this.

And hopefully soon I'll post something more personal ... and less sappy.

{all images via we heart it}