Tis the season...my favorite season - FALL!!!
Hello! Happy Weekend! Welcome back! Thanks for coming back!!!
It has been a long, long hiatus and I am just elated to be getting back to what I absolutely LOVE to do and to YOU, especially!
These last few months have been full of challenge, change, and adventure, but I am glad to say that I have overcome, celebrated, and ready to jump back in starting with...OCTOBER FAVORITES!!!
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LORAC MEGA PRO Eyeshadow Palette
Personally, and as a blogger, this is the one time in the year where I absolutely cannot wait to shop for beauty products!!! It is during the holiday season that we start to see these beauty and cosmetic companies put together some of their star players, introduce a season exclusive product or color, and put them out on the market for a fantastic steal of a price. For those reasons, my biggest advice to anybody, whether a beauty junkie or just someone looking to buy their necessities, is to get their stuff during this time of year.
However, my favorite for the month of October and this year (so far) is the Mega Pro Eyeshadow palette that Lorac Cosmetics has released.
32 shadows (16 matte and 16 shimmery), slim packaging, amazing quality, and look at that HUGE mirror. I can't seem to stop turning to this palette for my daily look. In addition, there are so many combinations that can be created...natural, smokey, warm, fun...You name it, this palette does it.
If you own the Pro I and/or II palette and are wondering whether or not to invest in this one, I say YES, YES, and YES! With the exception of 3 or 4 colors (which are the black, white, cream - basic must-haves), all the shadows in the Mega Pro palette are new. On top of that, you really can't go wrong with the quality of Lorac shadows. Creamy, pigmented, and easy to apply and work with. I would even venture to say that with the combination of all three palettes, you can easily be set on eyeshadows, period!
This palette retails for $59 and you got to get it while it is in stock, whether through Lorac's website or Amazon!!! These babies go FAST and they may be sold out already (Sorry!).
Regardless, still go check out what your local beauty store, Ulta, and Sephora have to offer during this holiday season! Options are limitless!!!
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Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in Sultry
With fall comes deeper, darker, richer lips, and this one by Revlon is very on-trend and looks so good on so many skin tones! Sultry, one of the ColorBurst matte balms, is this season's take on what's hot on the pucker this fall.
If you have seen the magazines and been following the celeb scenes, the "it look" is that pouty, rosy-brown Kylie Jenner lip that takes you all the way back to the 90's. It's so popular that beauty gurus are all over social media with tutorials on how to replicate the look. Again, it's the thing!
With Sultry, the color just takes that popular look and elevates it into the holiday season. You get the matte finish, the bold yet muted hues, but it adds in that dose of berry that we all know and love during the fall/winter months.
Even more, you can't go wrong with a chubby stick. So easy to apply and just about fool-proof.
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Neutrogena Eye Makeup Remover Lotion
This product was actually discovered on accident while I was on a business trip earlier this month out of necessity after running out of eye makeup remover.
I mentioned this in the past, but I am incredibly loyal to my Lancome Bifacil Dual Action eye makeup remover and there has yet to be something that really compares. Ultimately, that is my holy-grail product.
However, for the price of about $7-ish, this particular remover lotion performs very well! Just a dime to nickel sized amount on a cotton round and everything starts to melt away. For removing the everyday look, I actually found myself reaching for this more than I did the Bifacils. Drugstore product for a quarter of the price and gets the job done...Yup! I'll be repurchasing this!
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Garnier Clean Refreshing Remover Cleansing Towelettes
In line with the favorite above, and ALSO discovered during that same business trip, are these makeup removing wipes.
Normally, I don't use makeup wipes because I think they are kind of a waste (Yeah, I said it!) and they also don't remove makeup as well as micellar water or a cleansing oil/balm. However, I love makeup wipes when I travel purely for the sake of convenience and the fact that I get great satisfaction from bringing home less than what I brought with me on the trip, as little as it may be.
In the past, I have always found wipes that work well, smell nice, and for the most part, get the job done. However, I decided to try a new kind of wipe and it was disaster (more on that below)!!! So much of a disaster that I couldn't bare to use it for the duration of my trip. So much of a disaster that I had to go buy NEW ONES!
So, when I finally picked these up (and don't ask me why I didn't pick up ones that I have used before), I was in a mood, livid, and impatient. Being a little overdramatic, I just wanted things to be right. And to my satisfaction, these are probably one of the BEST makeup wipes I have ever used!!!! Smells great, gets your makeup off nicely, and doesn't burn your eyes or your face. Such a winner!!!!
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Macadamia Natural Oil Flawless Cleansing Conditioner
If you asked me when this product first came out what I thought of it, I would have said that it was a huge, bottom of the barrel FAIL that did not work and cost too much for what it really couldn't do.
Well, I was wrong...Gravely wrong, but there's an explanation.
When I decided to first try this product, I was super excited and willing to try it seeing that my all-time favorite deep conditioner is also by Macadamia Natural Oil. Where everything went wrong was when I didn't realize that the can that I got was defective, and therefore, the product didn't work like it was supposed to.
Essentially, this is a pressurized can of cleansing conditioner that is supposed to come out as a thick, but fluffy heap. The can I bought went flat and dispensed the product (barely!) in weird short ribbons of cream and made my hair feel dirty and look like crap! Immediately, I got a refund.
Fast forward to this October, Birchbox sent me a can of this. (Oh,...greaaattt!!) And, as much as I wanted to curse this product, I thought that since this has been sent to me and I have it in my possessions that I would just give this product a second chance.
People! 180 degrees of perception changed. I flipping LOVE this stuff now!
When the product works the way it's intended to work, it's amazing. My hair felt clean for days, was so soft and manageable, and I truly felt like I could use this and no other shampoo for the rest of my life!
One thing I will say is that this falls in the whole category of sulfate-free, no sudsing, no bubbles type of hair cleaning...and I know that's not everyone preference. So, if this is just not your jam, know that the regular size 8oz. can retails for about $30. But if you like the sulfate-free feel of shampooing or you're curious to try, I say it's worth the splurge.
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Tarte SmolderEYES Amazonian Clay Waterproof Liner in Rose Gold
Lately, my skin has been a lot calmer. It may just be due to the cooler weather, but I'm definitely liking it. With that, I feel that I can scale down my makeup routine. Or, maybe this can all be due to me feeling a lot lazier...Who know?!
What I do know, though, is that this chubby, smudgely liner is amazing as a cream shadow!!! As I am getting ready for work, truely anything that make my morning routine quicker is my best friend. I swipe my lids a few times with this pencil, smudge and blend (either with my fingers or the smudger on the end), and I am done!
This stuff lasts all day and adds a level of dimension to your lids that makes it looks like you spent 10 minutes blending and layering shadows to get a seamless gradation.
Tarte offers this same pencil in various shades, but I have found that rose gold works the best on my skin tone. I got it in a set a year ago during the holidy season, so this shade may no longer be available, but do try golden beige and gold as they are great alternatives.
Good stuff! Go get it!
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Geluxury Gel-Lined Slippers
I recently posted on Instagram a picture of me relaxing before our home remodel and then even more recently at work with these slippers on. Yup, they are just that awesome that I take them with me almost everywhere!
Each pair is a soft plushy spa treatment all within a gel-lined sock that you can throw on your feet for 30 minutes (no need to wear them for any longer) and still get stuff done. I like to thrown these on and do the dishes or fold the laundry. And when I'm done, I just take them off and I have moisturized soft feet!
A couple things to be cautious of:
1) Don't slip!: Yes, your feet will feel nice, but yes, they make your feet kind of slippery (for about 5-10 minutes). Just be careful!
2) Sizing: When I first ordered these, there were 2 sizes (small or large) and the website said that my size 8 feet were a small. So I ordered accordingly. When I received the slippers in the mail, they were too small. Kind of annoying, but I didn't mind because I would just give them to my mom, who has narrower and slightly smaller feet than I do. I re-ordered the large and they now fit just fine. Funny thing though, I just checked the website, and Geluxury now offers a wider size range, so this may be a non-issue if you choose to get a pair.
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***James Avery Dogwood Blossom Necklace***
A BIG reason why October is my favorite month out of the entire year is that it is also my birthday month. And for my very special day, my very sweet husband bought me this pretty silver necklace from a craftman jewelry store, James Avery.
He picked out this really nice pendant of dogwood blossoms and I couldn't wait to wear it the moment I opened the box! The chain is nice and long (you can from various lengths) and the pendant is about 2.5" in diameter. Just a great sturdy necklace that you can wear with so many outfits!
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The Holiday Shopping Card
If you are a native of or live in the city of Houston, then you probably have heard of The Holiday Shopping Card, a charity card that benefits the American Cancer Society.
Basically, this is an annual charity discount card that, with a donation of $75, allows you to save 20% on your purchases at select local (and some national) stores, shops, and higer end boutiques.
You may be thinking, "Holy cow! Jen's crazy! $75 is steep!" Yup, you're right...well, kind of.
Besides this benefitting the cancer society, which is a great reason to donate regardless of a discount, the discount in itself is truely amazing! Partially due to timing, my husband and I were in the market for a new breakfast table and chairs and we had scoped one out several months ago at Pottery Barn, which is not exactly Ikea-prices, if you know what I mean.
Lucky enough, this holiday card came about, and we ended up saving close to $500 on something and somewhere where discounts and savings are nil to none. The extra cherry on top is that my favorite store, Anthropologie, is always a participant, so what a girl to do? I mean, you just can't not, right?!
Overall, just a card well worth the donation yearly!
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My RETURN to the blogosphere!!!
One of the many exciting things for me in the month of October was the opportunity to start blogging again!
All things happen for a reason, and unfortunately and fortunately, awhile back, timing, circumstance, and events kept me from really being able to engage in doing what I enjoy doing, which is blogging about life, beauty, products, and things/moments that really enhance the way we embrace living.
I might not be all that great (yet!) at doing this whole thing, but I am thankful for the people and the world around me that allow me to persevere.
With that, came the RETURN OF THE MAC!
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NEW HOME UPGRADES!!!!!!!!!!
Lastly, the ultimate moment in October!!!
I am fortunate to say that it is a blessing and mark of accomplishment that my husband and I have dedicated ourselves to working hard and building what I would call an AMAZING, warm, and loving household!
In 2011, both still under 30, we embarked on a journey to become first-time home buyers, purchase and built a brand new home to call our own in a spectacular and thriving community.
Now, almost 4 years later, we are truly humbled to have made a HUGE investment and upgrade our home! So, that meant pulling out some carpet, busting out tile, and installing this wonderful new flooring.
I had always envisioned that one day, I would have wood flooring. However, working in the home building industry as a purchaser specializing in flooring, I realized that hardwood is not all that it is cut out to be...especially if you don't have the time to baby wood flooring.
So, I took my experience, my husband did his research and talked to some people, and we decided this great new advancement and trend in flooring was the best for us. No, I didn't get wood or even laminate wood (p.s. stay away from that stuff if you live in humid climates). We got something better...Porcelain tile wood-like planks - specifically, Shaw Petrified Hickory in Fossil.
In addition, while were at it, we went ahead and changed out to thicker base boards, a fresh coat of paint, and added crown molding!
All I can say is, love it, easy to clean, the best money ever spent!
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These wipes...are HORRIBLE!!!
First off, although the package says that they are cleansing wipes, they do a crappy job at even removing a little bit of makeup so I gather that these exist simply for what reason?
Second of all, they BURN the skin. Not even a slight tingle. They burn! Even more, unless you read the fine print that is hidden under the flap on the back of the package, which I don't know anybody that does, you wouldn't know to avoid your immediate eye area. So, as you can gather, I am wiping these towelettes over my face, not removing a lick of anything, and singeing my skin and eyes.
Lastly, and most perturbing to me, is that this stuff is supposed to smell like grapefruit. It smells NOTHING like grapefruit, or any citrus or fruit, for that matter. In fact, the scent is absolutely unbearable and indescribable.
Needless to say, these are going in a special place called the garbage.
Fail, Neutrogena! FAIL!
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So that is it, Folks! What a magical month October has been! Although I am sad to see it go, I am excited for November and December and celebrating the wonderful holidays!
I hope you have enjoyed and have been inspired by the great October favorites I have shared.
Most of all, enjoy the rest of your lovely weekend, and go make it a fabulous one!
- Jen
