Fall Drugstore Haul

CVS got a little visit from me the other night and I did a little damage. I have been pretty good lately with not buying any new make-up which is surprising since I've walked passed Sephora almost 5 different times this past month! It is hard to resist that place, but I held out.

So, when I had the opportunity to wander the aisles of CVS I took it! I am pretty happy with everything I bought too.

Above, are two Maybelline Color Tattoo colors and I am in love with them! They are incredible cream shadows with intense staying power. After swatching them on my hand even with make-up remover I was scrubbing. The one on the left is Tough as Taupe and on the right is Bad to the Bronze. 

Next, I was looking at some concealers but I really like the two concealers I have been using (Bobbi Brown and Sonia Kashuk's Hidden Agenda Palette), so I opted for a brightener. This is the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser for Dark Circles. It is a great product because not only does it do its job of brightening but it offers a little extra coverage. I am victim to the dark circle so this helps me combat them even if I'm not wearing anything more than some concealer and powder.

 Then I couldn't resist the nail polish section and got these two beauties. I have to say these might be my go-to colors for the fall. The purple is called Sexy Divide and it is a true royal purple, and I love it! On the left is Mink Muffs, a browny taupe color. They are just so nice to look at and they apply really well. 

Finally, I picked up yet another Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey. This is a mauve pink color and it is a great lip color for the colder season. It isn't too bright but the color payoff is perfect and it would probably compliment most skin tones. 

Back Pain and Brownies

This title really makes me laugh, it seems so clever...at least to me.

Currently, I've fallen victim to some really bad lower back and side pain, nausea, and just a bunch of other symptoms. We here at the Smeriglio household, have narrowed it down to our guess prognosis of something with my kidneys.

Very specific, I know ;)

I am seeing the doctor tomorrow so hopefully this will be over soon, I just feel so lousy and all I want is to lay in bed all day. Work and school call though, so I'm always running anyways.

This week we have Wednesday off for the Jewish holiday, so that is nice. To celebrate (we'll just use that as our excuse) my boss is having us all over for a BBQ. It is more of a "make a dish and come over" thing, than a real BBQ but there will be pulled pork and drinks so I am there.

I, as usual, will be putting together a dessert, since that is my specialty. I was going to make Buckeyes but I decided to experiment and do something a little less time consuming. I am going to make double chocolate brownies with the super mini Reeses cups mixed in and then I am topping it off with some peanut butter drizzle!

I am planning on making a blog post about that so look out for it! My favorite part is licking the brownie batter from the bowl...bad for you I know, but I've been doing it this long and I'm okay!

Final thought - Thursday is my one year anniversary with Shaun! yay!

It is weird that it is one year, it almost feels longer than that, but in a good way. I won't say what I got him yet, just in case he happens upon the blog...but I think it is way awesome. I'll share details after Thursday :) I think we'll end up just having a nice dinner out or something but I like those kinds of things the best.

Have a good week!

Fun Internet Finds

I am guilty of spending quite a bit of time just roaming the interwebs looking at anything and everything. So that time spent is going to be put to good use by sharing my finds with you!

RGB Colorspace Atlas

This is the coolest thing ever! It is an atlas that shows every color ever possible. It is an 8in x 8in x 8in cube and I think this would be the greatest coffee table piece ever. Plus the inspiration one could get would be endless!

What Happens When an iPhone 5 is Glued to the Ground

This is the random humor I was born with kicking in, but I think this is too funny. Also, part of me is taken back that anyone would spend all that money just to pull a prank. However, I've already seen a video of the iPhone 5 being blown up in a microwave - so what ever makes people happy, right?

Treehouse

This is a screenshot of my favorite new website, Treehouse. I've been very into learning HTML/CSS right now and this is how I've been doing so. I also have books and I use other websites but this is awesome. It is the same concept as Codeacademy where you go through lessons and earn badges but Treehouse uses videos so you see the instructors doing it along with you. Plus they quiz you, which is also a bonus. The only setback is the price, it is free to have an account but to get the services you can either get a silver account for $25 a month or gold account for $50 a month. For just learning purposes I'd go with the silver, but they do offer half off your first month through the gold account!

Pulse

This is my favorite website to go to for news, in particular technology news. Pulse started out as an iPad app and then slowly expanded to the iPhone and then the web. You can pick a bunch of different sources and Pulse puts them together under a category and you can see all of what is happening. They have a ton of legitimate sources too like The New Yorker, New York Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Birchbox, CNN, and so much more. You can see that I have a bunch of different categories set up on the left. Then in the rest of the screen is all the stories from those sources, but you can click to get stories from only one source if you want that too. Love this.

NOTD & OOTD

We have a nail of the day and an outfit of the day to share! First up, I just did my nails and I actually really like them! I used Sally Hansen's Hard as Nails in Grey Area on all my nails and then OPI's Shiny Dancer which is a shimmery navy blue over the Grey Area only on my thumb and ring finger.

Sorry about the shine, I was right near a lamp

Then for my outfit, I decided to go a little Summery for this final day of summer:

This is a pink oxford shirt from Old Navy and then a pair of white shorts I got from Hollister a few years ago. Can't believe they still fit! I haven't gone out today so I'll probably just throw on some brown sandals when I go out later :)

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Late Night Ranting

The worst feeling in the world is the one where you cannot sleep because of that one thing that is bugging you so much that you cannot stop thinking about it. Plus, knowing you have to actually deal with it when you wake up. 

I dread those situations where you know you have to handle something and you have no idea how it will turn out. All you know is you hope you're not going to regret it. 

Ick.

Candle Haul!

Okay okay, I'm a terrible person because I meant to put this up days ago but have some pity?

So I went to Bath and Body Works because my lack of candles was getting to be too much, plus the lure of fall scents were just too much to over come. So here are my new candles!

  

I love how all of them are the same cream color, I think that it looks so pretty.

 

First up, are the big three wick candles. BBW does a two for twenty sale every so often and honestly if I could, I'd buy even more. The two I bought were Mahogany Teakwood and Marshmallow Fireside.

The description for Mahogany Teakwood: "Revel in the cozy fine woods fragrances of mahogany, cedarwood and oak, highlighted by delicate lavender and geranium notes". I think this is pretty acurate, but I've heard some Youtubers call this the exact dupe for what you smell when you walk into an Abercrombie and Fitch. Having worked there for two years, I can't really agree...but all the fragrances the company used I was allergic to so who knows!

Marshmallow Fireside: "Celebrate the changing season with a warm blend of marshmallows, smoldering woods and creamy vanilla reminiscent of a cozy evening 'round the bonfire". I really don't like marshmallows at all, the only exception is the occasional s'more. However, I think the vanilla overpowers it just a little, and I am a sucker for firey vanilla scents :)

Then I bought a smaller candle in the scent White Barn Nutmeg and Spice, and two tiny jars of Lavender and Vanilla. I bought the two jars of the Lavender and Vanilla because firstly I love the scent and I also thought it'd be cute to balance the two big jars on my shelf and put the White Barn one in the middle. 

White Barn Nutmeg and Spice: "A cozy concoction of spiced caramel and nutmeg evokes delightful memories of relaxing weekend getaways in the country". 

Lavender and Vanilla:" A unforgettable fragrance! You'll love this blend of timeless lavender and creamy vanilla, with touches of cedarwood, delicate jasmine and citrus". Honestly, I wished I had bought two big versions of this because I love woodsy and floral mixed together.

Hope you enjoyed! I know I will ;)

Fall 2012 Wishlist

Fall 2012 Wishlist by jennifersmeriglio featuring bvlgari perfume

Lorac
sephora.com

Bvlgari perfume
sephora.com

Beauty product
sephora.com

Stila beauty product
sephora.com

Stella McCartney Stella
sephora.com

Lancôme Trésor Midnight Rose
sephora.com

September Birchbox!

Ready for another Birchbox? I sure am, it feels like I'd been waiting forever for this next one. The box is a sort of welcome to fall/fashion week so I think it is pretty appropriate especially because the weather has been cooling off quite a bit. 

It came with this cute booklet or their version of the fall fashion mags haha

First item is the La Fresh Nail Polish Remover Acetone-Free pad. I've seen these around on YouTube so I'm excited I will get to try this out. I haven't been doing my nails lately (I don't have enough time to let them dry!) but I just painted my nails tonight so when I switch colors I'll give it a go!

I am super excited about these teas by Mighty Leaf. I love tea and when it is cooler out it is the perfect drink. The three flavors are Vanilla Bean (yum), Green Tea Tropical, and Chamomile Citrus. 

This is an enzymatic face rejuvenator by Vasanti, not a brand I have ever heard of, but I am always willing to give new stuff a chance. Plus my skin has been pretty decent lately, so I can afford to branch out a little. 

This is what I was most excited about, however I think the sample could have been a lot bigger than .07 ounces. At least give us a full ounce! This is the matte moisture tint by Jouer. I put it on and I am in love! It has amazing coverage! Like this is truly closer to a foundation. It is amazing and it isn't too matte which is nice because this is when my skin starts getting really dry. 

This is Twirl by Kate Spade, and I have smelled this before and love it so I was so happy to see this in the box. I feel like I enjoy it enough to buy it, but I don't know if it is really a fall/winter scent. However, knowing me I'll probably buy this and a few others because I think I've loved all but one or two samples so far.

This is the big loser for me in the box. I watched the video for the month preview by Birchbox and they introduced the line of nail polishes by Color Club dedicated to social networking. This is the one color (Tweet Me) I did NOT want to get. It is described as a creamy Chartreuse and honestly, this picture makes the bottle look too yellow and not enough green. However, when it is on the nail it is streaky as hell and the color is puke green/yellow. I would have preferred any of the other three to this one. 

Finally, I was amazed to see this because I LOVE Madewell and J. Crew. Since I need more cold weather clothing I will be using this up right away. Thanks Birchbox!

What I'm burning right now

Thought I would share what candle I am burning right now and the one I had previously. I am such a candle person and I honestly never feel like I can have enough. Sadly, I have to wait sometimes before I can go splurge (damn you Bath and Body Works, those 3 wick candles can be so expensive!).

First up, I will share the candle I just finished burning:

This is such a lovely scent, I like certain flower scents but if it is just a jumbled super strong floral scent it can make me sick to my stomach! Poppy Sunshine is described as, "A luscious burst of red poppies on a sunny day, with sparkling lemon, sweet red raspberry and a touch of white musk".

It is probably one of the best scented candles I've ever burned, it is just that good.

Next is my current candle, also from Bath and Body Works:

Pink Tulip is more floral than Poppy Sunshine, but it is a very soft and pretty scent. "As sweet as Spring's first bouquet, fresh cut tulips, soft lilac and hyacinth blend perfectly with watery violet and a touch of sandalwood". I figured since it is technically still summer for another week or so I could get away burning this - especially since it was my last candle!

No worries though - I just went to the mall and picked up a handful of candles so look out for a haul soon! 

iPhone 5: Are you impressed?

 I thought I'd touch on the ever popular iPhone announcement that happened yesterday. The iPhone 5 was announced and honestly, if you have been on the internet at all - then the whole thing should not have been a surprised. We've pretty much known how it was going to look for a while now. 

I have to say, I am not impressed. It is an amped up version of the 4S, I think the largest thing going for it right now is that it will support 4G LTE. However, here are some of the new features:

- 4 inch screen compared to the 3.5 inch screen on the previous models

- thinner by 18%

- 8 megapixel camera on the back and a 1.2 megapixel front facing camera

- it is 20% lighter and it is taller than the older models but not wider

- the back camera now features panoramic picture taking

- newly designed earbuds

- smaller connector port, which means new smaller cord

- Siri has new features like looking up restaurants and movie times, purchasing tickets, making reservations through Opentable, and she can even social network for you

- screen is even more crisp

One other thing actually worth mentioning app wise is the new Passbook app which is essentially "Google wallet without the credit cards" as said by my favorite YouTuber Philip DeFranco. Essentially, you can keep all your gift cards, tickets, plane boarding passes, and discount cards on your phone instead of physically needing them.

There are however some warnings you should know about the new phone. 

- They have come out with a new maps app because Apple and Google seem to be going at it. So you won't be getting maps and directions through Google, but through whatever system Apple sets up

- Because of the disagreements between Apple and Google, they are getting rid of the YouTube app, but never fear because YouTube has come out with their own app for iOS

- The new cord is USB 2.0 compatible not 3.0 which is what the new Macbooks are - womp womp

(don't worry Apple is estimated to still make 100 million dollars just off the cords alone in the next year - triple womp)

- Finally, any accessories and docks you have for the older iPhones are useless with the iPhone 5 - unless...you buy a $30 adapter for the phone 

Personally, I'm more interested in the Google Nexus and that may very well become my next phone. While others are fangirling out of their minds over the new iPhone - it feels like there is something still to be desired. New fancy features are great but there are a number of inconveniences that come along with it and honestly, some of them are features that should have come a while ago.

It is worth noting that Apple announced the new line of iPod nanos and iTouch - I actually would love to get my hands on the iTouch. It looks incredible - maybe look for a post about that soon!

Summer Book Review

If you know me then you know I am a total book worm. I'd rather stay home and read a good book than go out to a party. I am a proud little nerd :)

I did finish up a few books at the end of August and I wanted to share them with you! 

"Imagine" by Jonah Lehrer

There has been a ton of controversy with this writer over the last few weeks. It has come out that he was possibly committing plagiarism and fact checking errors. I won't say much about that only because I don't know enough but keep this in mind when you read this book. 

I say this because this book is about the "science of creativity". I really enjoyed this book actually, and I thought a lot of the research he spoke about was interesting and made sense. Of course, due to the scandal we cannot be sure about the facts but either way this is such an intriguing look into what makes us creative.

"The Chaperone" by Laura Moriarty

This is a great book for anyone who likes the plot to take place in early history. This is placed in the 1920s (my favorite time period) and is about a woman who is hired to be the chaperone for Louise Brooks who is going to the big apple to dance with a company. 

Now, Louise Brooks was a real person and became an actress, but this is a fictional story with the real person being used as a character. The story is heartbreaking, and so relatable because the main character has a parts of her life that try to brake her down and she is trying to find and accept the truths that hide in NYC so she can move on with her life back home in Kansas. 

It has a lot of twists but you will love every second of it I promise!

"Killing Lincoln" by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard

Yep, it is that Bill O'Reilly that you are thinking of. He as wrote a book about President Lincoln's assasination. This is hands down in my top 5 list of books. I could not put this book down, I just wanted to read it all night! President Lincoln is my favorite president so I'm drawn to anything about him. 

The duo wrote the book in the style of a fictional story but in fact only used fact and documents. It was brilliantly written and the use of facts to mold that story was perfect. I certainly recommend this book for any history lovers and anyone who is just interested in what went on in the time leading up to the assasination. 

Final note: he has just come out with Killing Kennedy whihc will probably be my number one favorite book ever because as much as I love Lincoln I love the Kennedy family just that much more!

Shower Routine

Here is my go-to products for the shower as of right now. I've seen a bunch of videos up on Youtube right now about bathroom tours and which products girls are using right now. I decided I'd jump on the bandwagon and join in my own little way. 

First up is the Organix Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo. This is my holy grail shampoo - hands down. I have a really sensitive scalp and if I use a new shampoo the odds of my breaking in to a load of painful bumps is pretty high. It may just be my scalp breaking out due to the shampoo or an allergic reaction but either way it stinks! This smells incredible, leaves my hair the softest it has ever been and I have no bad reactions to it. 

Next is my conditioner which is Organix Hydrating Macadamia Oil Conditioner. This stuff smells almost better than my shampoo and I have also been using the dry oil from this line and I NEVER use hair products in my hair. The dry oil has transformed my hair. Both are a must have!

I have been using the Dove go fresh body wash in Cucumber and Green Tea. I am not a huge cucumber fan in the least bit. I hate the taste and smell of it usually, but this smells so good! It is also very hydrating which is great for my skin because it gets really dry. 

I wanted to find a shave gel that wasn't all hyped up with fragrance. Again because I am really sensitive to smell and fragrance and I can be allergic to some perfumes. This is perfect because there is a scent but it is barely there. It is a great shave gel too, but I don't find many differences between the use of shave gels.

Last but not least is my face wash - the Befine Gentle Cleanser. I tried this line on a whim and I really love it. For the most part my face has been very clear and I think it is in thanks to this cleanser. It has a ton of good for you ingredients - peppermint oil and leaf extract, oat bran extract, rice bran proteins, sugarcane extract, and wheat amino acids. I will definitely be buying this again. 

There it is folks, my shower product lineup! I hope you enjoyed and hope you are all having a great weekend!

I have a website!

So excited to announce that I have put together a website for myself! 

It will be a portfolio or sorts and will be a home base for my work and ever changing interests. 

I hope you guys will take a look and let me know what you think! 

Thanks so much!

 

my website!

Boring Mondays

This weekend has been so quiet and boring and I sort of hated it. There really isn't anything wrong with a quiet weekend but when all there is to do is homework and you can't concentrate...it is the worst.

Thankfully, I saw Shaun on Friday night and I hung out with him Sunday night but we didn't do much. The first two days of work were long for me, I'm just not used to the schedule yet and this week will be my first real jump into it. 

So what did I do all weekend? Homework and work on my new website!

Why do I have a website? Well let me explain...

I know that my future is still a little up in the air, I don't know exactly which job I will fall into once everything is said and done and I'm prepared for that. It is a little scary but these days it is more common to make the work happen in the areas you like. You don't need a college degree to do the things you want to do, and even with one I can still do so much more!

I want a space that I can call my own and show people all the different things I can do or am learning to do. I don't want to limit myself to only political science, just because that is my degree. I am capable of much more and if I had the time I'm sure I'd be making money of those things right now. I'd love to be able to build websites for people or be a community manager for start-up or work in public policy or be a writer! 

The nice thing is that I could do all of that. 

So yeah that is why I built myself a website, and no worries Some Blissful Chaos is here to stay and as my schedule is constantly changing I will try to work on this blog as much as I can. 

Here is a sneak peek!