Currently Reading: May

I thought I would do something a little different and do a post about what I am reading this month. I am one of those people who can read two different books at the same time. I don't know why but it doesn't seem to confuse me. Although if it is a really good book or a more difficult book to read, I'll stick with one.

This month I have been reading the Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin and Inside Apple by Adam Lashinsky. Truthfully, I started the Happiness Project in April and I just started Inside Apple today.
I am really enjoying both books though; they are subjects I hadn't ever planned on reading about.

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin started with a bus ride and a Aha! moment. She wanted to test different aspects of life and see how and why they made her happy, and ultimately if they could make her happier. She sets up a year long project and assigns different aspects like fun, money, friends, and love to each month.

It is a pretty genius idea, and it has branched off into her offering templates and plans on how to do your own project. At 22, I don't really think I'm ready to tackle such a big thing. I'm still figuring out what makes me happy in the first place, I don't really want to start questioning it, but the book has given me some great ways to improve my mood.

Ms. Rubin does a lot of research so it isn't just hearsay, there is an actual basis for everything she is doing within her project.

Today, I started Inside Apple by Adam Lashinsky and I'm pretty impressed almost 3 chapters in. It is not a look into Steve Jobs so much as it is a look into what Apple as a company has done to run as a business and how those tactics have made them so successful. We get a great look into the atmosphere of the employees and the headquarters. We do see a lot of Steve Jobs and how he made choices and how he truly decided to run Apple, but the book delves into so much more.

Like I said, I'm only 3 chapters in but I think it will be pretty amazing to see inside a company that has more money than our country.

What are you guys reading? I have such a large pile of books to still read and an even bigger list on Barnes and Noble that I've yet to buy!

[Pictures from Barnes and Noble's website - bn.com]

Random 5.12

Come out, come out, where ever you are.
Let me see the real you.
Are there cracks on that tough exterior?
Can I break through?

Don't be afraid, don't be scared
To let me see how you really feel
To show me how you feel about me
Let your heart be the one I steal

It is never easy to break down those walls
But if you trust me, let them fall.
The hurt you're afraid of is real
I know this because I've been there.

I won't hurt you, I don't want to
I just want to see what is true
If there is love between us
If there is love in you.

FOTN: Olive Sparkle

Just wanted to share my "face of the night" with you guys :)

I think I'm going out to have drinks with the boyfriend tonight so I wanted to look extra pretty.

It's a really subtle smokey eye with a metal taupe brown and pink. I lined my upper lash line with olive green liner and winged it out and used black liner on my lower lash line. On my lashes I used a brown mascara. Finally, I filled in my brows.

On my face, I used a BB cream all over, and some concealer under my eyes. I used Korres contouring powder in Mykonos. It has a bronzer strip, a blush strip, and an all over color strip. You can read more and see it here.

I used that pretty much all over and then used Bobbi Brown's shimmer block in Rose Gold on my cheeks.



Products used:
Eyeshadow: Sephora's 4 shadows and liner palette in "brunette eyes No. 08" = used Retro Powderpuff (pink) all over the lid and Marie in the crease along with the dark grey liner in the crease.

Eyeliner: Stila's Waterproof liquid eyeliner in Flash for the upper lash line and Urban Decay's Zero (black) for the lower lash line.

Mascara: Covergirl Natureluxe mousse mascara in brown

Brows: Sephora Rectractable Brow Pencil in No. 4 Midnight Brown

Face: Dr. Jart + Waterfuse BB Cream

Concealer: Benefit's Erase Paste in No. 2

Face Powder/Contouring: Korres Magic Light Face Contouring Powder Trio in Mykonos

Blush: Bobbi Brown Shimmer Block in Rose Gold

May Birchbox!

It is May Birchbox time! It was really interesting seeing a black box come in the mail yesterday, and when I opened it I discovered that it was a Gossip Girl Birchbox! I haven't really stayed too up to date on the show but I do love me some GG!

First item that stuck out to me was the Dr. Jart + Waterfuse BB Cream. I adore BB creams for the most part, with the exception of that one bad run in with the Garnier one. However, I've been eying this one for a while so I was excited.

Sadly, I have a MAJOR gripe about this. The sample isn't huge but I wasn't too heartbroken. I've tried it for two days and there is literally nothing left. You would think they'd actually fill the tube but no such luck. If I want to maybe get one more use, I'm going to have to take scissors to the top of the tube.

This is the brand's fault, not Birchbox. They don't manufacture the products, but Birchbox should be aware of this.  Anyways, I wasn't impressed the first time I used it, I didn't think it covered very well. But I used a little more today and I am pleasantly surprised. It feels nice, it isn't a grey or orange color, so it blends so nice.

Next up, is probably my favorite product: the Stila sparkle waterproof liquid eyeliner! It is a full size product first off, and I love it! It is this olive green that is so gorgeous and it has glitter in it but let me tell you; that glitter will not budge! The color is called Flash and I'm so in love. I literally had to scrape the swatch off my hand, it has amazing staying power. The applicator is awesome too, practically fool proof!

Then in the box was a twistband, which I think is great because I can never have enough hair ties. I always find myself needing to throw my hair up. I bought a pack of them from Sephora and I love them!

I was happy to see this next product - Ojon volume advance Volumizing Conditioner. I haven't really been using conditioner for the last few weeks. So it was probably due time for me to start again :) I used it today and my hair feels pretty soft and a little more light. It feels a little oily so I'm not sure if that is just me or if it is the product. I'll try it some more and see.

The last product was a fragrance by BVLGARI called Omnia Crystalline. The name confuses me, it doesn't make a lot of sense to me as a fragrance name but it doesn't matter because this smells so good! The description says it is notes of lotus flowers, bamboo and Nashi pear. I really like this, I might be tempted to pick it up in Sephora!

Lastly, the extra in the box was a notecard that you could use. It came in a bright pink envelope and it's pretty cute.

 Pretty successful box this month. I'm looking forward to watching the Birchbox videos on youtube to see if people got anything different, or just a regular box instead of the Gossip Girl one!

*Swoon*

So I just saw this video on Tumblr and I'm dying...just dead. It's Jeremy Renner (from the Avengers and Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol) singing New York State of Mind on Jimmy Fallon's show. He's become the new love of my life haha

I can't find the video on YouTube so here's the link to my re-post of it on Tumblr. Enjoy


http://jensmerg.tumblr.com/post/22637047416/tyleroakley-jeremy-renner-singing-new-york

Growing up too fast

     After working with kids who are in elementary and middle school for as long as I have, you learn a lot about their interpretation of different things. One in particular that always strikes me is the interpretation of being an adult. They see it as an amazing and fun time where they have complete and utter freedom. They can do anything they want, spend money on what they want, and not be told what to do.

     I laugh, because me and my friends thought the same way. There was nothing more we wanted than to be older and not be looked down on. That was and is still an issue, adults treating kids only like kids. Sometimes, it seems easier and increasingly helpful to both parties, to treat kids like they are a bit more grown up. They don't want to focus on the big disconnect there is between your age and theirs. If they feel more on your level, they will most likely be willing to cooperate.

     The truth is, while I didn't believe it when I was young, is that you never want to grow up too fast. Being an adult, even a young adult, has been stressful. We all go through different events in our lives that may change the description of what being an adult is like. However, it doesn't mean we can't all feel similar things. Sure, when you're older you get to drive a car. But you also have to start thinking about how to pay for that car, the insurance, accidents, and paying for gas. There is nothing more earth-shattering than you're first car accident, but you don't want to say that to a new driver and scare them half to death.

     Another thing kids cannot seem to wait for is the romance that will supposedly find them. Let me tell you, I believe that the best is yet to come for me and I'm 22. That doesn't mean I haven't been in love, but when you are young things are so distorted. You truly believe that every guy you date needs to be a gentleman, or say sweet nothings in your ear. Or hold your hand 24/7. Those things are nice but trying to change someone into that will never work. Those gestures are always more special when not done constantly.
   
      I have seen girls act the most immature they ever have, simply over a boyfriend. It is scary. But these kids don't realize the heartbreak they will have to go through first, and they'll think they are the only ones. There isn't anything we can do to protect them. Just be there and support them. They will fall in love with love, and only time will change that.

     I know that children do not understand how difficult it can be in college or how hard it is to get a job, but it won't get any easier. At least the way our education system and economy are going. I don't even really have major bills to pay, and I still never have enough money. I am trying to graduate in December and I need to pile on 4 Summer classes and 5 class in the Fall, in order to do so. Plus, then comes the intense worry about paying off the loans I had to take out to pay for my entire education. No one will hire a college grad with no experience, but no one will give us a chance to get that experience and that is where we are stuck. Taking unpaid internships that are full time and trying to work a petty part-time job just so we can commute to our internships. It is one of the most frustrating things about being my age right now.

     Yes, at 22 I can go drive around, hang out with whoever, drink, buy scratch offs and more. But none of that really makes me happy. I'd rather stay in and watch a movie with my boyfriend, then trek out to a club and get drunk and lose my hearing and my voice because the music is so loud. I like driving but not enough to do it just for the heck of it, it is expensive to pay for gas. There is more freedom with growing up but the responsibilities pile up right with it. Believe it or not, I also believe our moral compasses kick in and being wild and crazy becomes less and less novel with time.

     What they don't realize is that soon enough they'll be in our position wishing for the times of being little and always being taken care of.

Sephora Haul 5.4.2012

So I have fallen victim to my obsession once again :) I headed to Sephora with my mom because she wanted to find some things for my cousin's wedding. She really doesn't wear make-up so there was a lot of testing.

I of course ended up buying a bunch of things. I had a specific idea of a few things I needed and then stuff I wanted. While I didn't love how much I spent, it could have been like three times worse!

First I knew I wanted a new cleanser because I am pretty much out of the ones I have at home. I did a lot of studying and reading of the reviews and I decided to try the Bliss Clog Dissolving Cleansing Milk. I put it in my shower already so here's a picture of it from Sephora's website:

Second, I knew I wanted a new foundation, and I also wanted it to be a natural one. Choices get limited when it comes to natural make-up lines it really is either Tarte, Korres, or Josie Maran. The thing is most of it is powder and my skin doesn't love powder foundations. So I picked up Josie Maran's Argan Matchmaker Serum Foundation.
(Pics go from left to right)

This next product I am totally in love with. It is the Korres Magic Light Face Contouring Powder Trio in Santorini. They have one that is more pink and it called Mykonos, which is pretty too. This is an amazing powder and you can use each color separately like the box tells you or swirl it together. I love it both ways.

 Then I had heard about Jack Black's lip balm from a girl on YouTube (LegallyBrunette214) and I really have a weakness for lip balm so I knew it was going to happen. I chose Vanilla Lavender and the smell is heaven!

Next is a Sephora eyeshadow palette. I wanted some nice purple shadows because that color goes amazing with brown eyes and I picked this up:

 I adore the 2nd and 3rd colors that are swatched on my hand. They are so pretty paired together and go really well with the purple shades too.

The last product I bought was one I was intent on getting since it came out: The Korres Wild Rose + Vitamin C Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial. I've been using their Wild Rose moisturizer and mask for a long time so I knew right away I'd want to try this. I will probably do a review on it, to let you know if I think it works.

Lastly, I had enough points at the checkout for a 500 point perk with my Beauty Insider card. So I got the Too Faced Naked Look palette with 2 eye-shadows, a blush, and two lip glosses. the eye shadows are amazing I'm wearing them right now and they are the perfect neutral colors. I love the darker taupe one. The "blush", it is really a shimmer veil" is nice and it will be a good highlight. Sadly, I hate the lip glosses. One of them when I went to try it (the air kiss one) was soft and sticky and my finger sank right into it. The other one is nice but has no real color to it.

Sorry this post was so long but I hope you enjoyed!