After-Christmas Shopping Trip!

Sarah and I did a little bit of shopping today and I am pretty happy with what I picked up! I haven't tried some of the items yet but I'll probably do a review. 

I have heard a lot of things about the Clear line of hair care now, and I just couldn't help myself. I do have a feeling a lot of my hair troubles come from my scalp but we'll see what this can do. It was $4.99 at Target.

Okay, now before you have a heart attack at the price of the Shiseido cotton pads ($9.50), there is a reason behind this buy. I watch Michelle1218 on YouTube and I love her videos, she and I are actually very similar and we'd probably get along great! I really trust her reviews and advice so when she did an explanation on these I couldn't pass them up. These are the best cotton pads on the planet pretty much. The cotton is untreated unlike pads you'd buy at the drugstore. That means they are much softer and don't shed and are better at being used for what they are meant to be used for. I can't wait to give these a try and I will definitely be doing a comparison review soon. 

The gold beauty to the top right is the Too Faced Lip Creme in, "In The Buff". This is another raved about product in the beauty community and I haven't heard a single bad thing about it. It is so moisturizing and the color payoff is incredible. I wanted more than one but I decided to try this color first. The tube is nicely weighted and makes it feel expensive, and the formula just glides on. ($21 at Sephora)

I am in desperate need of a new cleanser and I had tried Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser before and their Ultra Moisturizer so I decided to pick up to small sizes in each to give them another go and see how my skin works with them. I think they'll work out just fine but I'm looking forward to it! (Cleanser $9 for 2.5 fl oz and moisturizer $18.50 for 2.5fl oz)

Finally, we walked into JCrew and I saw this button up and just had to get it. I love the color and the dots and best of all it was on sale for $50 instead of $78! They have other colors too, but not all of them are on sale. Someday I will fill my wardrobe with JCrew :)

December 2012 Haul

December 2012 Haul by jennifersmeriglio featuring a kiehl s

J Crew long sleeve button down shirt
jcrew.com

Too faced cosmetic
sephora.com

Shiseido cosmetic
sephora.com

Kiehl s kiehl s
kiehls.com

Kiehl s kiehl s
kiehls.com

Clear hair care
target.com

Review: LORAC Pro Palette

I'm here to review the LORAC Pro Palette and I got this as a Christmas gift. I have been so interested in this palette ever since it was released but it just took a while for me to get my hands on it. 

Here is the packaging, I tried to use natural light but it came out too bright. However, the box is beautiful and it is all glittery which is a great touch. On the back it even offers tips for what colors to use together. 

For how thick the box was, I was astonished at how thin the palette was. It is maybe about an inch, possibly shorter. It is a rubber like outside too which is nice, and may get a little dirty but it is such a smooth surface that it is easy to clean. 

The palette comes with 16 colors, half matte and half shimmer. They are gorgeous! The above picture is in natural light. There are a few colors that are similar between the matte and shimmers but I like that not every color has a match. For example, the darkest matte color is black but the shimmer's darkest color is a slate blue. 

Here is the palette with lamp lighting, and I actually think it is more true to color here than in natural lighting. I will tell you right now, I am so in love with this palette. I will even go as far to say that I love it more than both Urban Decay Naked palettes! 

Above are the matte colors swatched on my hand and get this...without a primer! That white is incredible! The mattes are true to color and the color payoff is outstanding. 

Here are the shimmer colors and they are just as impressive. The shimmer is great and there is only one color with slightly chunkier shimmer. That color I believe is champagne, but it is easily worked with. 

This palette is hands down my favorite eyeshadow palette EVER. The shadows are so creamy and pigmented and while you do get a little dust from putting your brush in it it is worth every penny. It also comes with a small tube of the Mini Behind the Scenes Eye Shadow Primer (.17 oz). It has a slight skin tone tint to it but it is a pretty good primer. 

Each eyeshadow is .32 oz and something I love with this is that it has no parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, synthetic dyes, petrochemicals, phthalates, GMOs or triclosan! I did get that off Sephora's website but it is so nice to see a company do that with a product like eyeshadows. 

The palette sells at Sephora for $42 (a $110 value). 

Christmas Eve & Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you all got everything you wished for and then some. I would say it was success in my house. I feel a little strange doing an overview of everything I received  it just feels too much like bragging. I will do a review on some particular make-up items though :)

I thought I would share with you my adventure in baking from yesterday! I made buckeyes which are peanut butter dough balls dipped in chocolate. They were such a hit last year I had to make them again. I will put some pictures down below along with the recipe.

Enjoy!

Mom made frosted egg nog cookies!

Buckeyes

Ingredients:

480 ml or 2 cups of peanut butter

2-2.5 cups of confectioner's sugar

1/4 cup of room temp butter (you can do salted or unsalted)*

1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract

About 1.5 bags of chocolate chips (depends on how large you roll the balls)

Instructions

1. Put the peanut butter and the butter in a microwave safe bowl. If you are using unsalted butter you may want to throw a small pinch of salt in. I use salted butter to avoid that. Microwave for about a minute until it is smooth and mixable. 

2. Stir in the vanilla extract and the sugar until you get a dough. You can use an electric hand mixer or use a spoon. 

3. My tip is to put the bowl of dough into the fridge and let it get cold, it is easier to roll and make sure to cover your hands in some sugar so it doesn't stick. Roll into small 1in balls. 

4. Throw the rolled balls back into the fridge or even the freezer for a while. It makes it easier to dip in the chocolate.

5. After you melt the chocolate chips in a bowl (I just use the microwave and add in some crisco) using a toothpick dip each ball into the chocolate. The reason they are called buckeyes is because they look like the actual buckeye. You don't have to dip the whole thing but you are free to do so. 

6. Put back in the fridge or freezer until it is time to eat! You don't want to eat them before the chocolate has had time to harden. 

There you go! I hope you enjoy!

Holidays and Head Injuries

Yeah, you read that right...head injuries. I had an unfortunate experience yesterday at work and while I was able to laugh about it, it hasn't really ended well for me.

We play a game at work called Mat Ball, which is pretty much kickball with some revisions to the rules, like you can have up to 3 people on a base at once. In the morning, I got hit in the head with the kickball, while running to third base. I felt a little funny but mostly I just had a headache.

That afternoon we played again I got hit in the butt once and after that I got hit in the head again. I threw my hands up and said "I'm done, I'm going to sit in the hall way", I did get a good laugh from everyone in the gym. Needless to say I've avoided playing in the gym for a while.

So it is possible that I have a slight concussion, especially since I have had quite a few and I am more prone to them.

Anyways, it is officially the winter vacation and I have until the 2nd off! We had our last school day today, and usually I don't work Fridays but today we had a staff holiday house challenge, so I wanted to work. We had two teams of four counselors and we each had to build a house out of graham crackers and candy. We let the kids watch and then they got to vote for the winner. Sadly, my team did not win but we did make a pretty great house.

I hope all of you enjoy the holidays and if you've already celebrated then enjoy your vacation!

Our house!

The front with our silly team name

Overhead

A view of the other team's house

Review: Mary-Kay Mini Nourishine Plus Lip Gloss Set

So I got this as a little gift and I thought it was completely adorable! As you guys know, I am not the biggest lip gloss fan because usually I find it very sticky. However, this is a beautiful set that just glides over the lips. 

Something that pleased me more was that it was by Mary-Kay, which we never hear about at all. My mom used to sell Mary-Kay and I would be her assistant (must be where my love of make-up started!). These colors are amazingly pigmented and I actually love the sparkle in it. 

The colors are swatched here on my hand, starting from bottom to top. 

The first color is called Beach Bronze and is a gold colored gloss with gold sparkles. It is a great color to wear to wear to blend into your natural lip color.

Next color is probably my favorite, it is called Red Passion and it is just what it looks like, red gloss with red sparkles. Perfect for a party lip or going out.

Next, is Pink Luster which is a more rosy pink with what looks to me like silver and pink sparkles. 

Then, is another favorite, Berry Tart, which has silver sparkles. 

The light pink color you see has the cutest name, Fancy Nancy, and it has gold sparkles. This is a great natural color. 

Finally, there is a clear gloss, Icicle, which has more silver/blue sparkles.

 There you go! I love this kit and will definitely use it, it really is a great thing to use all year round. You just can't go wrong with these colors. 

Each gloss is .5 grams but I couldn't find it on the website, so if you know someone who sells MK, be sure to ask!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree!

Just thought I would share the construction of our Christmas tree this year. We've been having a pretty rough time getting into the holiday spirit around the house. We've all been pretty sick and it is hard to feel cheery. However, we set out to decorate and this is what happened!

Putting up the garland

Up with the garland and a few gold ornaments

some more ornaments, blue, red, green, and some old childhood ones

the finished product! Tree topper and skirt and all. 

I included a video with a closer look at the tree and some of the ornaments :) How has your holiday preparations going?

Connecticut Shooting

This is going to be short. I have lived in Connecticut all my life and I never thought (no one ever does) that we'd ever see a tragedy like this. I wrote this on my facebook but all I can think to do is repeat it here.

I am completely at a loss for words. 27 people, 14 of which children dead. For what? I am literally nauseous and shaking because as someone who works in an elementary school so closely with children, I couldn't fathom having to lose any of them. I love the kids I work with and I would do anything to protect them. I just can't even bring myself to words how upset I am to see this happen anywhere, let alone my own backyard.

I have worked in a public school with children for over 8 years now and it blows my mind that something like this happened. Sadly though, schools all over are some of the easiest places to walk into. You don't go through security to enter a school, you don't even end up in the office when you enter. The office is off the side so anyone can really just go through and start walking the halls. 

But that is the point of a school right? To be open to the kids and families of that school, not to be a prison where no one trusts anyone else. That is why tragedies like this happen in schools. Everyone is going to call for stricter gun control. That's fine and dandy, but that won't get to the heart of the problem. 

There are sick and twisted people out there and if they are crazed enough they will get access to whatever they have to. They will do harm to others because that is what is going on in their minds. These people need help and to be kept away from the rest of the public, and yet they are constantly slipping through our societal cracks.

All my thoughts go out to the entire community, school, and the state. As I go to work this afternoon and try to enjoy the holiday party we are having for our kids and their families, I will be grateful for the chance I have to work with them.  

December Birchbox!

All wrapped up is the Birchbox theme this month and I think it's cute. I don't necessarily understand the connection to the products...but oh well! 

The first product that caught my eye was this full-size Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner. I believe I had heard about this brand from Essiebutton or Estee and one of her videos. Other than that, I had never heard of the brand. It is a marker and it is pretty precise! 

Here is the problem though...I was given the color olive. I already got that color in the Stila Liquid Eyeliner! 

I mean I can't complain because a full-size is $15 so I already got more than I paid. I guess I just don't understand why I keep getting olive green.

The next item I am kind of excited for because I really wanted to try a new shampoo. This is the Number 4 Clarifying Shampoo. It is supposed to be a low-suds formula and reduces the amount of oils stripped from your hair; good oils that is. A full size is $32.

I always welcome new lip products, especially when they are lip balms. This is the Pomegranate and Fig Lip Butter by Mox Botanicals. It "revives lips with avocado oil and shea butter". A full size is $16 and this sample is very generous. I am not crazy about the smell, I think it is the fig but I will still use it!

This actually surprised me but in my box was a fragrance sample (no that isn't the surprising part) but it was by Aerie and it is the Shimmer Fragrance. For those who may not know, Aerie is the lingerie brand by American Eagle Outfitters. Aerie also sells clothing and it's really cute but I was happy to see a fragrance by them in here. It is a blend of bergamot, peony, and vanilla. Full size $14.95-$39.95

It was wrapped in this cute silver wrapper!

Last up, is the life-style extra and I must say Birchbox knows the way to my heart - free eyeliner and then chocolate? Yes, please :) This is a Chuao Chocolatier ChocoPod. Apparently they come in packs of 7 and a full-size is $7.95. The one I got is the Salted Chocolate Crunch ChocoPod, which is "Crunchy, toasted breadcrumbs dusted with sea salt and swirled in dark chocolate", not bad if ask me. 

Also a plus, is that it is 100% natural and free of hydrogenated fats, artificial preservatives, artificial colors and flavors, and artificial sweeteners. 

Just when you thought it couldn't get better, there was a gift card for $50 off a rental of $125 from Rent The Runway! I don't love giftcards that you have to spend money to use, but this is a tempting one so I will have to go on and look around :)

Hope you have a great December loves!

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

Photo by http://epsos.de/Red-Heart-for-Romantic-Love

By no means do I want to get into detail but yes, I'm single. 

Breaking up is never fun for either party (depending on the situation). Sometimes it is something inevitable and sometimes it comes out of nowhere. What is important is how you deal with it. I have to say I was pretty proud of myself, I handled it decently. 

The whole getting back out there thing...yeah about that.

It seems like there is always this pressure on people that once they are single it is time to start anew. Maybe it is because the few guys I've been out with always turned into something more. I just don't know how to tackle that game though. 

Personally I feel like an awkward mess. Like I've somehow made it way too obvious that I like someone. Why does it always feel like you're navigating a maze? Love is complicated, but should finding it be too? 

Dating should be carefree and happy, and yet everyone puts this pressure on themselves to impress and sometimes that backfires. 

Am I ready to get back out there? Sure. Will I do it gracefully? I guess that is to be determined ;)

My Graduation

There won't be any photos to share, no cap and gown, and no diploma (at least not yet). Tuesday is my "graduation" or my last day of college. Going to an school online meant I had the option of signing up for commencement and then going all the way to Arizona for graduation. 

I didn't want to spend that time with people I didn't know though. Even though today's activities weren't even a party, it is sort of just how I wanted to spend my "graduation". My mom decided that today since my brother would be around we would have our own little celebration. 

It was funny though, right in the middle of a timed exam my mom called me to come out into the living room. Kinda perfect though, since it was an ode to my school work. She played the commencement song as I walked into the living room and they stood and clapped.

It was honestly the cutest thing ever, and it was special to me. 

Then I got my graduation present :) I am now the proud owner of the Nexus 10 tablet by Google. I have been playing with it most of today. It is pretty awesome.

So yeah, I've pretty much come down with a cold so I've been blowing my nose all day but my graduation was pretty great. I got to watch a movie and play video games with my brother. I finished everything for one of my classes. Plus, I got a really yummy cake :)

There is only 40 multiple choice questions and a third of an essay to be written separating me from collegiate freedom!

Skincare Favorites

When the colder weather changes my face likes to throw a tantrum. It gets weirdly dry in spots and it breaks out a little more. However, I have been using some amazing skincare items lately and I thought I'd share them with you!

Cleansers

I have been using two different cleansers one by Kiehls and one by Korres. Why two you ask? Well, a while ago I had bought a small set at a Kiehls counter that had some favorites like a body scrub, body lotion, face lotion, and cleanser. I really love this cleanser it is a gel consistency and it really cleans off everything well. I have used it while still wearing make-up and it gets it all off. 

Once I was finished with that, I had a set I bought from Sephora waiting to be used. It is the Wild Rose Regimen Kit by Korres. Korres is an all-natural brand from Greece and I love their make-up and skincare. I'll do a more in depth review on Korres maybe in another post, like a guide to the brand. The set comes with a Green Tea Cleanser and it is great. It smells incredible and it is so nice on the skin, I recommend the Green Tea cleanser 100%.

Toners/Serums

I think I've mentioned this before but I am in love with the Eau Roma Water by Lush. It is a spray on toner and it smells just like roses and it leaves my skin feeling so refreshed. It is for more dry skin and it is a great spray for when you're done putting make-up on. I certainly think it keeps my make-up on longer. 

Also from the Wild Rose Regimen Kit from Korres is the Wild Rose Serum, which the kit says you can use alone or under your moisturizer. It almost has a minor oily texture to it, which is great for anyone with dry patches. I always get really flaky between my eyebrows (weird, I know) and now it is totally gone. 

Finally, I adore the Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S Thirst Quenching Serum. It might be more the smell than anything else, because I still find the Wild Rose Serum more moisturizing. However, it smells incredible and I felt like it really brightened my skin up which is a welcome treat in the winter time. 

Eye Creams

I received a sample of this in a Sephora order but I am certain this is a holy grail item for me. It is the Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector. I always have dark circle, and I am pretty sure mine are more hereditary and this works miracles on them. It almost looks like a correcting concealer because of it's color but it is pretty liquid like. I am buying the full size when I can find a spare $40 somewhere. I think it is well worth the money though. 

Also in the Wild Rose Regimen kit is the Evening Primrose Eye Cream. I can't say too too much yet, because I've only been using it for a little but I love the creamy feel to it and it feels like it plumps the skin around my eyes pretty well. 

Moisturizers

Okay so very quickly, I have three moisturizers to speak of. In the Kiels gift set I bought there was the Ultra Facial Cream and I honestly think this may be one of my holy grail products. It is so moisturizing without being greasy and I have been trying not to use all of it up yet! 

Then with the Korres kit, there is the Wild Rose Moisturizer which is very similar to the Ultra Face Cream except it is a little less moisturizing in my opinion. Also, it smells like roses...but I love that. 

And lastly, for something I've been using for a while on and off is the Korres Wild Rose + Vitamin C Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial. It is meant to be used at night  cream and I love this stuff. It is a tad bit more on the greasy side but I think that is okay for a nighttime cream. 

So there you go! My recent skincare favorites! What have yours been?