Trend Tuesday // Summer Lovin

It has been a long, long while since I've shared a board I've created on Polyvore!  Like, a loooooooooooong time.  But today I've got some things I've been loving this summer in a lovely little collage for your viewing pleasure.

find this set on Polyvore here.

this post contains affiliate links, please read the full disclosure here..

I've been loving some harem style pants for the summer.  I actually picked some up from Meijer a year or so ago and didn't wear them until this year.  I find that they are super comfy!  I like the patterns so I pair it with a white shirt.  I picked up some Birkenstock-esque sandals from Walgreen's of all places and love how comfy they are.  They are actually the inspiration for this post!  I've also been living in some easy slip on flip flops like these rubber white ones.

When it comes to storing my planner stuff, I have a new planner bag.  It is the pink variation of this blue bag from Crown & Ivy, sold at Belk.  I picked it up over my vacation in North Carolina for my family reunion and love it.  it has so much room, plus there are pockets on the outside!  I love that it is so colorful and roomy.  Easy to carry too!  I just took a peak on the website and Belk is a part of Ebates rewards!  (At the time I'm writing this it is 4% cash back.)  So don't forget to either activate your cash back or sign up here for some additional savings!

I'm also digging one of my old time loves - Claire's!  I picked up a few fun phone cases before my recent vacation and I want to pick up more!  I don't currently have the hot dog, but I do have a fun cactus with glasses, some sushi, and some french fries.  Unfortunately they don't fit the iPhone 6 plus though.

Finally, I'm digging this L'Oreal contour palette from the drugstore.  I love how it applies and how easy it is to blend.  I've been loving topping the harsh contour with a light bronzer, like the Milk Chocolate Soleil Bronzer from Too Faced.

What are you loving this summer?  Any top beauty picks?

xoxo, Moe

5 Reasons I Love my Cricut Explore

The holidays are coming up and I've never felt more crafty!  I have the ultimate tool sitting right under my desk and it's pretty versatile - the Cricut Explore.  You have seen my posts on using the Cricut's Print then Cut feature to create planner stickers (here, here & here) but there are thousands (upon thousands) of other projects you can do with it.  My current favorite is the easy of use to design my own tabs/divider styles through design space!  Cutting them out from my favorite scrapbook paper with the machine is much easier than doing it by hand.

this post contains affiliate links, please see my full disclosure here.
image used from Circut.com

If you need some more reasons to pick up the Cricut Explore (or the Cricut Explore Air) besides the fact that they are on sale right now keep on reading:

Easy to use

Above all the Cricut Explore and the Cricut Design Space are both easy to use.  You can pick up on how to use and design with Design Space extremely easily.  If you've even used another one of my favorite tools PicMonkey, you'll be able to catch on super quick.  The features are easy to use, you have access to all your downloaded fonts, you're able to change colors quickly, and you can use your own clipart to design.  Creating your own shapes - like planner dividers - is super easy with the weld button.  

Apps + Bluetooth

If you have the Cricut Explore you can purchase a bluetooth adapter to communicate with either your computer or your iPad.  How cool is that?  If you're using this post to convince you that you should buy this thing, if you pick up the Explore Air you get the bluetooth feature included!  Download the app for your iPhone or iPad and design on the go.  You know, after you've eaten all your Thanksgiving turkey you can curl up on the couch and design some Christmas presents before you slip in to a post-feast coma.

Like a Million Cartridges

If you're familiar with the word clip art let me introduce you to the cartridge.  The clip art used in design space corresponds with the cartridges offered by the company.  Think of the cartridge as clipart.  Now that we've got that out of the way - there like a bagillion cartridges.  Each set has corresponding elements to create cohesive designs.  There are even some cartridges with corresponding fonts.  Create to your hearts content.

Smart Set Dial

Not only is there a dial on the side of the machine to take the guess work out of blade depth, but under the custom settings there are so much more!  You can even manage your custom materials to set names for common depths you use for your own materials.  Not to mention you can cut things like leather and balsa wood and then easily set the dial to delicately kiss cut vinyl.

Cut, Write, and Score

Not only is this machine like a one stop cutting shop - but it also writes and scores!  The Cricut Explore (and the Cricut Explore Air) have two different heads - one for the blade and one that you can interchange with either a writing tool or a score tool.  All in one awesomeness!  Write, cut, score, fold, bam you're DONE!

If you're down for a new crafty gadget to add to your creative arsenal, I've got some great news!  Currently the Cricut Explore Air and various Cricut Explore Air Bundles/Starter Kits are on sale through the Cricut website!  Hooray!!!!  Or you could alway suggest the sale price to Santa, I'm sure he'd hear you loud an clear. 

You can also get FREE shipping on your orders using the code FREESHIPNOV (I'm not sure how long the code is good for...so go use it!)

Is there one crafty gadget you are excited about?  Do you have any crafty gadgets on your Christmas lists?

xoxo, Moe

Five Crafty Things For the Planner Girl

I think I have so much fun planning because I'm a crafty girl at heart.  I have found a way to be creative everyday - I used to want to scrapbook and even got into 30 Lists for a while, but it just didn't really suit me.  I couldn't keep up with 30 Lists and I was too non-committal with traditional scrapbooking (which is why I love Project Life....but haven't finish an album in ages.)  So transitioning from crafty girl to planner girl wasn't really a hard transition.  I mean I already had a but load of scrapbooking paper just sitting around being pretty.......

Here are 5 crafty things for the planner girl:

this post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclosure here

Xyron Sticker Maker
This has a specific use and you may not have purchased one before getting into planning but you definitely need one now.  I have a Cricut (and my new Shillouette!) so making kiss cut stickers is something I can do anytime I want.....but a $10 sticker maker like the Xyron is AMAZING.  When I don't feel like messing around with my Cricut or Sil, I bust out the good 'ol scissors and get to work with my Xyron.  There are tons of free printables out there and if you have yourself a good pair of smaller scissors (check the clearance often of your craft stores!) you can be super precise.  I've uploaded some functional printable stickers in my shop here. A paper trimmer can help too.  The Xyron comes in a variety of sizes but the small one fits your DIY stickers up to the width of an Erin Condren Life Planner box - 1.5 inches wide.  How convenient is that?

Rule Your Rulers (and your washi)
I found these guys the other day in Hobby Lobby and knew exactly what they could be used for.  The literal name of this is Rule Your Rulers.  I'm pretty sure they are about $4-$6 depending where you grab them from.  You don't have to keep the little hook on it but it's pretty utilitarian if you have a place to hang them up.  Organize your washi by color, by holiday, by theme, etc.  Pretty handy.

Hexagonal Punch
Not only are hexagons all the rage right now but the angles of the sides of the hexagons make perfect little tails to page flags.  This might be a preference thing but I like my page flags to look a certain way (I also like my tear drop stickers to have a certain shape!).  Trimming scrapbook paper down and then using the angled edge of the hexagon punch makes the tail the right angle.

Felt Appliques
I shared before how to make easy paper clips with pre assembled felt appliques.  Those little crafty goodies are great if you are unable to die cut shapes or unwilling to assemble them all into cute little things!  You can find them all the time around the holidays.  Its great to have an assortment of clips at your disposal.

Scrapbooking Embellishments
Those little card stock cut outs are amazing too.  Laminating them and then attaching a paper clip makes a little less bulky paper clip.  The best place to find these little guys in super unique collections are places like TJ Maxx, Tuesday Morning, and Marshall's!  Using a thicker lamination - like 5 mil - will make it stand up to being used but not too thick like a felt applique can be.

This whole planner thing has been a really creative journey for me.  I've gone from just plan to how many stickers do I really need?  Hope you found something in this list that can make your planning easier.

xoxo, Moe

Current Favorite Higher End Crafty Gadgets

If there is one thing I've loved longer than makeup and planners it is craft supplies.  One of my favorite traits about myself is my creativity.  I love that if I have an idea I can execute it - for the most part.  Being able to create anything under the sun means having an amazingly stocked craft room/area.  Honestly, I feel so thankful to be able to have the fun gadgets I have to make nearly anything possible.  I've shared my favorite paper crafting supplies in this post, and I've also shared my favorite craft supplies in this post, but now I want to share my current favorite higher end crafty gadgets.  Some of these could be considered middle end (which makes no sense, I know) rather than high end but if you're an average crafter I feel like these are things you save up for or ask Santa for and don't really pop into a Hobby Lobby and throw money everywhere.

I've been in love with these gadgets since I got them and find them so, so helpful for many different things!

Cricut Explore

I found my Explore on sale at Menard's (a hardware store) of all places.  It was severely discounted and I just snatched it up.  Since owning it I've used it to make stickers, planner dividers, & scrapbooking embellishments.  I'm looking forward to trying to make some vinyl decals and seeing what I can cut with it.  There are tons of free shapes and cartridges to create super simple projects.   There is even a monthly or yearly subscription service so you don't have to buy a zillion cartridges all at once. The Design Space is easy to learn (reminds me of using PicMonkey) and the creation process is really simple.  The Cricut software also has a print then cut feature as well.  I would have never been able to create kiss cut stickers if it weren't for this machine.  I also wouldn't have been able to create small embellishments in various shapes with out a million punches if it wasn't for my Cricut.  The precision cutting is amazing as well - no more uneven planner dividers!

We R Memory Keepers the Cinch

I recently created my own planner using the Cinch and my Cricut Explore.  I never would have been able to bind a little journal like that with out this little contraption.  I was super intimidated by this little machine and just stared at it for a long while.  Turns out it is super easy.  If you're looking to create any sort of memory book or notebook.  It is perfect if you need to make a little notebook in a pinch - like for a gift or something.  But you can also take your time and make a super detailed scrapbook.  It can also double as an A5 size hole punch to punch pages for your planners!  I like it because I can make notebooks super fast.  I'm going to try to make some little notebooks out of Project Life cards as little gifts this year for Xmas.  You can also create a junk journal of sorts and punch in your pictures to create a flip book.

Sewing Machine

I. Love. My. Sewing. Machine.  I don't even do a 10th of the things it is capable of but it is so inspiring to just feel like creating something out of fabric and then being able to.  If I want to sit down and sew something I can...and fast.  Hand sewing would make me get super bored of the project I was working on.  I find that I get bored with a project if I can't see it develop quickly enough.  I've loved using my sewing machine to make a few aprons, my fauxdori, some garb for the SCA, and just general sewing two pieces of fabric together.

Crop a dile Big Bite

This is one of those things where you can justify not picking it up every time you see it in the craft store.  I finally picked one up to set eyelets and punch holes in my fauxdori.  I now think it will be super handy when I want to set eyelets in other crafts - maybe scrapbooking? Who knows?  I haven't really found assorted uses for it yet, but I'm sure I will!

These are my 4 current favorite higher end crafty tools.  Now I can make all the things!

What are your favorite crafty gadgets?  Anything I should try out?

xoxo, Moe

Trend Tuesday // Top 5 New at the Drugstore

Spring has definitely sprung here in NW Indiana.  I know I said that before and then it snowed that same day....but I promise...there should be no snow until like October.  So I'm good for a few more months.  I am so happy to come out of the Winter months.  My skin is still a bit dry though and I can not take it.  I'm still using the Aveno Daily Moisturizing Lotion mentioned in this post but I'm waiting for the day that it is so hot and my skin gets so oily all my make up seems to slide off.  Sometimes there's a little learning curve when you're coming out of or going into new seasons!

I've picked up some new make up over the past 2 months but I've just now gotten back into using it.  I've really just been doing concealer and a bit of powder (gasp!).  Coming from a full coverage gal...that's big.  I'll be sharing my fave quick concealers in another post, but here are my current top five favorites that are new at the drugstore:

I love the colors in the L'Oreal La Palette Nude.  Honestly, this is what I want in a drugstore palette (cue reviews of the Maybelline The Nudes Palette and The Smokes Palette).  The colors are great and they have a great shade range - meaning they don't blend together and each color has individual characteristics.  There is a matte light mauve/brown shade (third from the left) that really gets me.  That's my type of shade!!

Also the full coverage of the L'Oreal Pro Matte foundation rocks my world.  The two shades I have are 101 & 102 and I know I'll be mixing them to get my perfect shade when I hopefully start to get a little more tan.  But I've been loving the minimal blemish-only-coverage the NYX concealer palette gives.  The concealers blend nicely and I don't feel like I just have bits of concealer.  For bright as hell highlighting you should definitely check out the Wet n Wild Come Correct concealer.  The lighter shade is BAM highlighted but the texture reminds me of the IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye so the coverage and staying power is awesome.

Finally, I love the simplicity of the Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Colors too.  At first I really didn't like the shade Pinky Candy (all the way at the right there) because I thought it didn't show up well...but now that we're in the Springtime months I think I'll like the subtle pink more.  They apply so smoothly and last pretty long but the packaging isn't that great.  The product will fall out of the tube...so don't turn it upside down!

I can't wait to get into the Summer time make up now too!

Have you brought out your warm weather make up?  Any new favorites that you have?

xoxo, Moe.

Trend Tuesday // Top 6 Dingbat Fonts

I am a sucker for a good dingbat.  Dingbat fonts really get to me because I love the idea of having an icon to express my every mood.....I think that's why I love emojis so much.  But there is one question I have....why is there not a taco emoji?  Riddle me that Batman!

Here are my top 6 fonts:

Peax Webdesign Free Icons // Adhesive Number Seven // Bergamot Ornaments

State Face // Cool Stuff // DJ Kitchen

I love dingbat fonts because they are so versatile - create a sticker, create a poster, create a card, the possibilities are endless really.  So. Much. Fun.

xoxo, Moe

Trend Tuesday // My Favorite Teas

I've been drinking tea a lot lately.  It's been a night time ritual for me to brew a cup through my Keurig and I've added tea storage to our little coffee nook!  I thought I would share some of my favorites today because I'm thinking of repurchasing some samples I've had and it seems Amazon has the best prices for everything.  Currently I'm loving Jasmine tea and find myself drinking two cups a night!  But here are the rest of my faves:

Yamamotoyama Jasmine Tea (cheap but it's the one I've been going to!) // Red Rose Lemon Chiffon Tea (if you love light, lemon flavors...this is so yummy!) // Tazo Well Being Rest tea //  Harney & Sons Caribe flavored green & black teas (I got a sample of this and fell in love!)

Do you have a fondness for tea?  What is your go to relaxation method?

xoxo, Moe

Favorite Fall/Winter Lipsticks

First off, it is cold as crap here in Indiana......I just turned the heat on this weekend. Secondly, one of my favorite parts of fall are all the deep lipsticks you can bust out. Of course you can wear whatever you want, whenever you want...but I like to wear darker lips in the Fall. Here are my favorite colors:

The Nudes/Pinks

from left to right:  Model Co. Dusk Til Dawn, Wet n Wild LE Coming in Latte, Revlon Matte Mauve it Over, Hikari Cabernet, Maybelline Matte Lust for Blush, Wet n Wild LE Rose to Fame.

For the Fall, deeper nudes a pinky-nudes are what I'm into.  I'm really digging the brownish colored lip trend as well!  I pulled out some oldie but goodie lip colors from my collection like the Model Co lipstick I got in a Birchbox or Ipsy bag last year.  It is a wonderful sheer, shiny nude.  It smells a little fruity, too.  Coming in Latte is something you need to go grab up if you can find the Wet n Wild Halloween collection!! It is a beautiful deep, brown nude that looks beautiful on the lips.  It has just the right amount of glossiness to it but it will stick around all day.  The lasting power of the Wet n WIld lipsticks is amazing.  I have worn this color a lot to work!  Revlon's Mauve it over is a lighter nude that be a staple in Summer to transition into Fall.  And it is matte so that gives you a different texture to work with, too.

If I'm looking to go the pink route I've found that berry-pink-mauve route is the way to go.  FIrst is a lip color I could have sworn was red when I pulled it out of my Ipsy bag this month.  Additionally, when I wore it I thought it was red.  Clearly, I was wrong!  It is more of a berry-mauve color and depending on the pigmentation of your lips could come off a bit darker.  I've also fallen for the Maybelline matte line and this color Lust for Blush is a nice dusty pink for fall.  Finally, Rose to Fame - another Limited Editon color - is a part of the Halloween collection from Wet n Wild as well.  It comes off semi-matte and is very comfortable to wear on the lip.  It is a nice brown-rose color that is on trend as well.

The Reds

from left to right Wet n Wild LE BalmStain in Senorita, Wet n Wild Cinnamon Spice, Wet n Wild Cherry Bomb, Revlon Fifth Avenue Red, Revlon Really Red

Deeper red lip colors are also something I look forward to in the fall.  Of course, as we move into Winter, they become a holiday outfit staple.  Who doesn't love a festive red lip?  When I first saw this LE BalmStain from Wet n Wild (also in their Halloween display) I knew instantly it would be great to create that blood-red-lip for halloween.  It looks a bit more berry here, but it totally creeps me out for Halloween.

As for deeper, brick reds, I'm in love with Cinnamon Spice and Cherry Bomb from Wet n Wild.  Each have a semi-matte finish and as you can tell, each is just a teeny bit different.  Cinnamon Spice is more brick red and Cherry Bomb is a little bit more of a purple red.  If you have a darker complexion you will be surprised how flattering these would be.  (Another shade in this range would be Urban Nights or Urban Night)

Going for a traditonal red that would be beautiful for the Holiday season I have pulled out two options.  If you were able to pick up Fifth Avenue Red from Revlon back in the Summer, pull it out again because it is a wonderful red color for Fall.  Slightly shiny and a little more blue toned means your teeth will look whiter.  If you're looking for a more orange-red, this matte color Really Red by Revlon.  It is a bright red that would be great for any holiday party.

The Purples/Plums

from left to right Wet n Wild Viscious Varnish in Throwing Shade, Wet n Wild LE BalmStain in 2AM Call Time, Maybelline Vivid in Brazen Berry, Wet n Wild Ravin Raisin, Wet n Wild LE Matte Bordeaux Boulevard, Wet n Wild Fergie Collection Ferguson Crest Cabernet

The purples and the plums are my favorite part of Fall so I saved the best for last!  First off I want to mention the Wet n Wild Viscious Varnish High Shine Lip Stain.  Not only are nearly all the shades in this line wonderfully pigmented, glossy, and long lasting but they are comfortable to wear and they are the affordable alternative to the Revlon Moisture Stains. (I'll have a comparison up on the blog shortly!)  The color I love for fall is Throwing Shade.  It's a nice berry color with a lot of gloss.  Another glossy shade, that lasts long, that is also a deep purple is another LE BalmStain called 2AM Call Time.  Pick this up in the Halloween 2014 collection as well!  I loooooove the smoothness of this lip color and the ease of which it applies.  The final purple shade is something that I keep out nearly all year round - it is a Maybelline Vivid lipstick in Brazen Berry and it is a true light purple shade.  It has an opaque color and depending on the pigment of your lips it may come off darker.

For a rich plum look I chose one permanent color - Ravin Raisin - and one LE color - Bordeaux Boulevard - to compare.  I love each of them for different reasons.  Ravin Raisin is a part of the permanent line of Wet n WIld lipsticks but it is less purple.  Bourdeaux Boulevard is part of the LE Fall Matte Collection and is a little more purple.  I actually find that these matte lipsticks have a nice, creamy application and applies better than the permanent line.  They are more comfortable to wear and are semi-matte.  The creaminess gives them a slight gloss and I find that they are less matte than some of the permanent shades.  Finally, a deep berry-purple is Fergie's Ferguson Crest Cabernet.  This was one of the first dark lip colors I'd ever purchased and I loved it.  It might have been the catalyst for this whole post!

As you can see there are a lot of Wet n Wild lipsticks in this post.  They are so affordable & so pigmented you can try as many colors as you like with out breaking the bank!  And when they come out with LE collections...you should totally go crazy!

What are your favorite lip colors for this time of year?

xoxo, Moe

September 2014 Favorites

September went by so fast and I took an unexpected little blogging break because I was buying a new car! Mine bit the dust a few weeks ago and I spent a week working towards deciding on buying a new one. I bought a 2014 Chevy Sonic LT - so that is one of my September favorites! Let's get into them all though

Before my car broke down I made the sort of big purchase of a ClamCase for my iPad. I have a ClamCase Pro & it is $160 but if you visit the website & sign up for emails you can get a $20 credit, that brings the price down and they have an option for free standard shipping which took about a week (I ordered on a Saturday or Sunday and got it by the following Friday). I love it because it turns my iPad into a small laptop! I can blog easily and the whole thing is no bigger than my Filofax. Which brings me to my next favorite - My Raspberry Saffiano Filofax. I really started using it in September and it came in really handy when I was car shopping! Right now I'm realizing that I use it mostly for blog planning and less for my week to week planning. I filmed a planner tour video and I hope to put that up on my YouTube channel soon. I just have to edit it...that is the part I don't really care for. I've also been loving my crocheted blankets as the weather has been getting colder.

Movie & TV favorites (and unfavorites) this month have been Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle, and surprisingly The Colony. I sat down in front of Netflix one weekend this past month and saw the Silver Linings Playbook was available so I watched it. It was really good and a way different role for Jennifer Lawrence - I'd only ever seen her in the Hunger Games. So I decided to get my JLaw fix and watch American Hustle. I didn't realize that she wasn't the one of the main characters in the film and almost stopped watching half way through. It turned out different than I thought but it really wasn't the greatest movie, JLaw's character was good though. Zach & I watched The Colony on Netfix too and I'm actually surprised I liked that movie. If you've seen the movie Hell, which I believe is a German movie, The Colony is pretty much that but in a world where everything is frozen over instead of a world where everything is heating up. If you like end of the world type movies and aren't bothered by some gore, I'd recommend this movie. It also had me thinking way after the movie was done. As for TV I've been watching a lot of True Crime shows on Netflix and sometimes I fall asleep with them on. I've had at least one dream where I was being kidnapped. The only one I can rememeber was that I was being kidnapped buy a kid I went to camp with and Emrys. Em was still a dog but he could talk and was trying to kidnap me......what the heck?

And now for beauty and make up favorites! I've been loving a few face scrubs this month - the Charcoal & Black Sugar Facial Mask from Freeman's and the Tea Tree Squeaky Clean Scrub from The Body Shop.  The Freeman's scrub is actually a mask but I can' seem to understand why you'd have an exfoliant in a mask it's working like a scrub for me.  An Ulta has opened in my area so I've been popping in every now and then to see if there's something fun to pick up, which is where I got the Body Shop Scrub. 

I've also been loving my Wet n Wild Fergie & Mega Last lip sticks. I've been loving the deep, vampy fall colors.  The colors I've been loving are (from top to bottom) Cinnamon Spice, Ravin Raisin, Urban Night from the LE matte collection, and Ferguson Crest Cabernet. I've also been digging the Maybelline Matte lip color in Lust for Blush, the Hikari lipstick that came in my Ipsy bag this month in the shade Cabernet, and the Model Co Party Proof Matte Lipstick in Dusk til Dawn which I got in a BirchBox once.  It is the perfect 90's brown lipstick that is all the rage right now.  To apply my lipstick more evenly, since sometimes dark colors can get kinda unruly, I've been using the Elf small precision brush.

I've been using the Boots Beautifully Matte Makeup Base under my foundation and have really been liking it. I've been using Maybelline 24 Hour Foundation and the L'Oreal Infallible foundations this month.  Even though it's getting chilly out I'm still into wearing long wear foundations. I'm also pulling out my neutral blushes like this LE Milani blush in Warm Petals and this CoverGirl blush in Soft Sable, but also pulling in a new Bare Minerals Blush called Glee. For an eyeshadow base I'm still digging the Mary Kay cream shadow in Apricot Twist and instead of going all out with eyes, recently I've been putting my bronzer (Hoola, which I hit pan on!) in the crease and my blush color on the outer corner of my eye then using some mascara on my lashes. It's simple and natural, and is understated so my eyes aren't competing with the bold lips I've been loving.

So that's all I've been loving for the month of September....boy that was a lot! Here's to a fun October!

August 2014 Favorites

It's that time again - monthly favorites!  I don't think I'm going to be bringing back up my YouTube channel consistently anytime soon so I still want to keep on with monthly favorites here on the blog.  There was a lot I fell in love with this month:

My favorite cosmetics this month were all over the place!  I'm really digging the new Lorac Pro 2 palette and I just saw on Instagram that there is supposed to be a Mega Palette release in I think November. From what I saw it looks like the size of both of the Pro palettes together - like 4 rows of shadows!  I've still been digging the Wet n Wild Cover All concealer (review here) for highlighting.  I've used up most of the shade fair and even picked up a back up from Kmart.  The new Revlon blush in Naughty Nude has been a go to this month because of its neutral shade.  It's just the right amount of flush.  For eyes the new for Fall 2014 Wet n Wild 5 pan palette (soon to be reviewed!) in Smoke and Melrose has been a go to.  I love the rose gold shades.  For contouring I've been using this L'Oreal True Match Powder in a deeper shade along with a large, flat paddle brush to chisel out my cheekbones.  I haven't been contouring everyday, but when I do I find it really defines my face and the darker face powder is matte so there's worry of any sort of glitter/shimmer because that's not supposed to be in face powders!  (Though...if you look closely at the Maybelline Fit Me Powder there's glitter in there!)  When I need to blend out my contour I use this pink brush from this collection I bought on Amazon about a year ago.  Let me tell you, these brushes have held up wonderfully!

I've also gotten into Project Life and have been loving some scrapbooking supplies.  Mainly the tape runner...how did I ever adhere things with out one?  Seriously! The one in the photo is a permanent bond but I have - and lost - a repositionable one.  I'm also really digging these Precision Pens for both journaling in my albums and planning in my new Raspberry Saffiano Filofax.  I would include that in this round up but I haven't really used it yet.  I'm waiting to bust into it for September.  But in this round up I did include some purple washi tape....I've really been back in love with my favorite color this month.  Give me purple everything!  Another thing I want more of (is it weird to own 2 PL core kits of the same type?) is the Project Life Sunshine Edition Core kit!  Gah, I just love the colors and patterns!  And it goes perfect with the Project Life Midnight Edition Core Kit that I grabbed up on clearance.  Black and white with pops of color is my life right now.  I also want the 12x12 papers, dividers, and digital downloads that go with the Sunshine Edition.  Next up on my wish list is the Seafoam Edition which seems to bee on sale on Amazon right now!

Some other random faves are everyday necessities.  I've currently got 3 cases of La Croix in my kitchen and am loving the Grapefruit flavor.  Sparkling water is something I've liked for a long time but this summer is the first time I tried La Croix.  I can't seem to find the peach flavor which a lot of people have recommended though.  My Sweet Mint EOS lip balm has been at my side at my desk all week too.  Another first for the Summer!  Finally who doesn't love gold paper clips?  I think they look great in my purple planner!

Favorite blogs this month all revolve around Project Life & design - Caylee Grey, In a Creative Bubble, Big City Quiet, & Papered Hearts.

Hope your August was fun and here's to a fun September!  

xoxo, Moe

July Favorites 2014

I've been trying to get back into my YouTube channel but I've updated my iMovie & I'm pretty sure it now hates me.  So since we're apparently fighting I can't edit or upload videos.  But I still wanted to share with you what I've been loving this past month of July

Black & White - I don't know what happened but I've been all about black & white lately.  I love anything & everything, especially notebooks.  I'm getting back into my planner and I love how the inserts I've been making are pure black & white.  The contrast leaves room for color else where.  This little notebook is from one of the dollar type bins at Michael's.  

Jewelry - I've been loving bold metals recently.  I'm pretty sure it's a fall thing but this watch is from Charming Charlie's and the thick, gold necklace is from Claire's clearance.  Rose gold & bold gold have been ruling my life recently.

Lip Colors - 

Long wearing lip colors have been really interesting me lately.  It started with a purchase of CoverGirl Outlast All Day Lip Color in a really great read color.  Sadly I think this one was discontinued as I believe I got it at Big Lots.  But it did last all day through the 4th of July!  Through eating & fireworks.  I was impressed.  So I was on a quest for more.  Next I bought some L'Oreal Infallible Lip Colors, the one in the top left corner is in the color Apricot.  Both of these types of lip colors have the liquid lip color you apply & let dry.  Then you top it with the gloss.  They are both so long wearing and the gloss really moisturizes your lips.

I really wanted to get my hands on some new things and at the top of the list were the LA Girl Glazed Lip Paints.  I have to say I was super impressed with them!  They are super glossy but they set down to a nice finish.  And, at least on me, leave a little stain.  My favorites that are wearable everyday are Pin Up and Blushing but Coy, the lavender/purple above melts my purple loving heart.

And finally I jumped on the bandwagon with the new Rimmel Color Rush Balms.  I found these at Kmart which I'm starting to love for obscure drugstore beauty items I can't seem to find elsewhere.  These are super long lasting and moisturizing as well.  The coral color on the bottom left is really a true, bright coral and the pink on the right is more of a brighter, baby pink.  These are high color.  I'm pretty sure the left is Give Me A Cuddle and the right is Make Me Blush...but they don't have names on them....so sad.

Face Products -

For concealing my dark under eye circles that have slowly been creeping up I've been using Benefit's Erase Paste.  It is a great, salmon colored concealer that works perfectly for me.  I have a small sample size and probably would only repurchase that size because so much comes in it.  I feel like the full sized might dry out on me.  I've also been loving this Wet n Wild CoverAll concealer wand in the color Fair.  It is the perfect pink toned concealer for highlighting.  It reminds me of the radiant shade in the Dream Lumi concealer.  I also got this concealer at Kmart since I'd seen it no where else.  There is a whole review on the CoverAll line here on the blog.

For foundations it's been the month of the long wear make up as well.  The L'Oreal Infallible 18 Hour Foundation lasts pretty well through the day & is full coverage.  I haven't heard anyone talk about this foundation before, either.  It's great for oily skin if you use a shine control primer under it.  It does transfer as you go through the day but the coverage still stays there.  At first I didn't like the Maybelline Super Stay Make up but I've been using it on and off this month (switching from it to the L'Oreal) and have to say I do like it.  It too is full coverage and stays all day.  I like the consistency of the Super Stay better than the Infallible.  I need to look at the ingredients but to me it seems there's a sort of oil or something in the Infallible and the Maybelline might be more water based.  I read somewhere what to look for when deciding that but now I can't remember!

For moisturizer I've been using the moisturizer that came in the July Ipsy bag.  It's BeFine Food Skin Care and is natural, fragrance free and just plain nice.

For finishing spray I'm finishing off my Urban Decay DeSlick setting spray and and soon as the Ulta opens in my neck of the woods (hooray!!) that will be the first thing I purchase there!!

What are you loving this month?  Anything new?  Anything worth sharing?

xoxo, Moe

Three Great Eye Shadow Primers

Making you're eyeshadow stay all day is a huge goal for all of us..is it not?  I'm always faced with creasing & it sucks.  I'm not sure if I have unusually oily eyelids or perhaps it's just the name of the game but only a few eyeshadow primers really work for me.  I'm always up for trying more but lately I've been turning to these three guys:

Maybelling Color Tattoo in - This is one of the color tattoos from their matte collection last summer I think.  I've never been a fan of the color tattoos as regular eyeshadows but this one as a base is perfect!  It evens out my lids & is just tacky enough to hold shadow but not creamy enough to slide around my eye in an hour.  The texture of this one is kind of weird and to me it feels a bit thicker than the other, shimmery color tattoos.  Sorry, but these are no longer available (so sad) but I'd suggest scouring your Big Lot's or just keeping an eye out for them because sometimes these things pop up in those types of discount stores.

Wet n Wild Take on the Day Eye Primer - As you can see, this tube has had a lot of love.  This used to be my one & only go to eye lid primer.  I also have the shimmer version of this & they both work nicely.  The actual product smooths on clear unlike the other two in this post.  I like the tackiness of this as well - just enough hold, not enough to crease.  

Milani Shadow Eyez pencil in  - This is one I'm turning to more & more as it is more of a drier formula.  It evens out my lid since it's in that almond color and since it's a bit lighter than my skin tone it can act as a brow highlight, too.  I love the slightly less tacky texture of this pencil & it smooths on the lid like a dream.  The best thing about this pencil is Milani added it to their permanent line!  It was limited edition but now you can buy it on the shelves.  Don't you hate that all the best things are limited edition?

Left to Right: 

Maybelline Color Tattoo, Wet n Wild Take on the Day, Milani Shadow Eyez in Almond

These have been in constant rotation in my make up routine lately.  I try to trade things out every now & again to make sure a lot of my collection gets an even amount of love.  Other eyeshadow primers & bases just haven't lived up to these three, though!

What helps your eyeshadow to stay crease free all day long?  Any recommendations?

xoxo, Moe

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Five Movies that Will Cheer Me Up No Matter What

I watch too many YouTube videos.  It's a fact.  And sometimes in watching these videos I just fall down the rabbit hole of the place that is YouTube.  Before you know it I'm watching clips/songs form Roger & Hamerstien's Cinderella - all three versions - and singing along.  When I was doing this the other night I realized how happy this movie made me.  So I thought about other movies that cheer me up & came up with the following list.  A lot of these movies remind me of the fall time & it wasn't until this year that I realized how much I really love fall (I know everybody loves fall).  Up here in Indiana we actually have seasons, I'm hearing back in VA that it's still about 70 degrees!  I'm loving the weather right now even though I don't really like cooler weather - it's just nice to have a real fall.  Anyway, onto the movies:

Hocus Pocus // Roger's & Hammerstein's Cinderella // The Wizard of Oz

Rocky Horror Picture Show // Marie Antoinette

I don't know how I'm going to watch Hocus Pocus this fall...I guess I should just suck it up & buy it!  Usually I just wait til I can bum some cable off a friend when it's on Disney or ABC Family.. I wonder if it will be on Netflix.  Hmmmmm....

What are your feel good movies?

xoxo, Moe

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A Few of my Favorite Things

While leaving my apartment complex the other day with my car windows down,  I heard a car drive by slowly.  One of my favorite sounds is the sound of car tires driving about 30-40 mph on asphalt.  Just one car.  Not like traffic, just when one car goes by.

So here is a list of my favorite things:

source

The sound of car tires on asphalt // Senior year I lived in campus apartments overlooking Main St.  It was a small town with a tiny Main st but when spring came & I had the windows open my favorite sound in the was car tires on the asphalt in the middle of the night.  My favorite time to hear this sound? Right after the rain.  I dunno what it is but I love the sound of car tires on wet asphalt.  It makes me smile.

The sound of Zach's laugh // I've mentioned before that Zach is a serious dude.  He rarely laughs out of pure happiness & when he does it's amazing.  It's like something I've never heard before.  And here's a secret: he's been laughing more & more.  He's becoming a happy dude!

The smell of dog's skin after they've been laying in the sun // This is a weird one!  But when Cody or, my parent's dog, Rudy come in from out side its like heaven to smell their warm bodies.  They are all warm & cozy & playful....love it.

source

The smell of Honeysuckles // When you're driving in the summer with the windows down & that sweet scent catches your nose, just wonderful.  My elementary school was surrounded by a fence that had them all over the place.  When we were out for recess I'd just sit there surrounded by the fragrance.  I find that none of the Honeysuckle perfumes have the right scent for me but I'd love to find one.

Sleeping in late // It's just wonderful isn't it? You wake up to the sun peaking through your curtains.  Some how it's found you even though you have your head buried under your pillows, I dont' know how the sun does that...

Snoozing my alarm // This used to be a big past time for me.  I'd set an alarm on a day I didn't have to get up early, just so I could snooze forever.  I am also super picky about my alarm noises.  If it's not just right I'll get grumpy!

This week is going to be a hectic one, we've got to move Zach's house into a storage pod by Thursday, then he's gone.  Hopefully (and hopefully soon!) I can join him where ever he finds a job.  It's going to be hard for a while, but we gotta get through it!

What are your favorite things?