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?