You Werk that Up Do!

So, I was running late a week or two (?) ago and threw together this cute hairstyle. I had taken photos of it to share with my friend Denise, and since I'm still working on a weekend recap for you, I figured I'd share it. 

I adore a red lip. Seriously. I loved my make-up that day. So natural but with bold eyebrows and bold lips. Totally effortless but always works! Anyways, that's it from the front. I did the twist braid on both sides, but somehow forgot to get a picture of the other side. Oh well. 

Here is the side view. I wish I would have made the hair on top cover my scalp but eh. Whatever. I added a little headband that I made when I was making jewelry a bunch, for some added bling. It's obviously not revolutionary, but it's easy, it's quick, and it's pretty. Bonus points if you curl your hair first!

I just threw this picture in because look at that winged eyeliner. Looooove it. The back of my hair is just gathered in a crapball. Yes, that is a technical term! This is a really easy hair-do for busy mornings! If you give it a shot, post it to Instagram and tag me, @meganlauriana! 

Unpopular Opinion: Why Frozen Bugs Me

It's time I talk about something that has been grinding my gears for a few months now. And it's going to be unpopular. And I don't care.

Have you heard about that new Disney movie... Frozen? If not, can I come live where you live? Because it's obviously under a rock or in a cave somewhere. Regardless, it's where I want to be. I am so sick and tired of all the posts about Frozen on my Facebook feed.

PEOPLE GOING THROUGH HARD TIMES ARE QUOTING OLAF. HE'S A SNOWMAN. 

I can't. I just can't.

Look. I love Disney. I grew up with Disney. I love the Princesses. I love their stories. I love their characters. Truly. I don't think Disney is evil or that there are subconscious anti-girl themes in their movies. I actually like the movie Frozen. I wasn't like blown away by any of it, but I enjoyed it. 

It's really some of the fans that have really ruined it for me.

Here is why: 

1. Let It Go... No Really. Let the song go.

It's catchy. I sing it. I liked it. It'll get stuck in my head. There are covers upon covers of it. There are spoofs about it. It's everywhere. It's in every retail store where there is a kid section. It's a catchy song, but it's not the best song ever. I'm just over it. It's so overplayed, over-hyped, and now every time I hear it I want to take an ice pick to the eye.

2. Elsa, Elsa, Elsa! 

Elsa is a crappy sister. Through and through. She couldn't even talk to her sister through the door after being locked up by her parents (more on that later). I'm sorry, but it's true. Elsa was a horrible sister. To the point that Anna was so desperate for connection that she fell for the first guy she ever met and he turned out to be a jerk. But Elsa didn't have enough of a relationship with Anna to help her see it. Let's not forget that Elsa freaking ran away to wallow in her ice castle leaving her kingdom and her SISTER to not only freeze to death but to starve, since there was no way to get food or supplies into the kingdom. 

In spite of ALL OF THIS every little girl is wearing Elsa wigs and Elsa dresses and singing Elsa's song. Everyone wants an Elsa impersonator to show up at their Elsa birthday party.

3. Poor Anna.

No brainer here. Anna is the main character of the movie and yet no one cares about her. No one cares that she never once gave up on connecting with her jerk-tastic sister. No one cares that she traveled in the freezing cold to find her sister despite being rejected multiple times. No one cares that she ALMOST DIED trying to prove to her sister that she loved her and would be there for her despite the fact that she's 'different' and it almost killed her. Twice. Not only that, but she cared enough about the kingdom to brave the icy conditions in hopes to thaw out the land. 

Oh, I almost forgot, she sacrificed herself for the lives of others. NBD.

4. People care more about the snowman, Olaf, than about the heroine in the movie.

I'm not even going to get started on the fact that if someone is NOT talking about Elsa, they are talking about Olaf. Still no Anna. Say whaaaaat? I mean he was cute and funny but should his quotes be used by grown women going through strife in their lives? Eh. To each her own. 

5. Elsa's parents were horrible people.

This might be sad cause, you know, they died and all but Elsa's parents were awful. Not only did they mess with their daughter's memory but they locked their other daughter in a room. That is not good parenting. There are thousands of other ways to deal with this situation and yet they chose to give both their daughters MAJOR issues later in life. (Elsa not being able to accept who she is as a person, Anna throwing herself at the first dude that crossed her path.)

Yes, I'm aware that it all ended happily and Elsa learned to accept herself and the kingdom was saved. I just wish parents would focus more on the actual messages in the movie. Accepting yourself and those who are different from you, fight for your family, fight for the lives of others, be brave and above all else, don't lock your daughter in a room.

UPDATE: My amazing husband just sent me this and I adore it. Thanks babe.

Ps. All these images are owned by Disney. I found them by searching Google using the term "Frozen". 

Thoughts of a Reforming Fat Girl

Situation: In Rally's drive-through picking up lunch for Bryan.

Clerk: Would you like to try our new Brownie batter milkshake?

Megan's Brain: Yes.

Megan: No, thank you.

--

Situation: At Applebees for a bridesmaid meet and greet.

Waitress: Do you want fries with that?

Megan's brain: Yes.

Megan: No, can I get a side salad?

(At the end of the meal.)

Waitress: Any room for dessert?

Megan's brain: Yes.

Megan: No, I'm stuffed! Thanks.

--

Situation: While on a walk with my family an ice cream truck drives by.

Bryan: Want an ice cream, babe?

Megan's Brain: Yes.

Megan: Heck no. I've gotta lose weight!

--

Situation: At Port of Subs grabbing sandwiches.

Employee: What size would you like? Small, Medium or Large?

Megan's Brain: Medium.

Megan: Small... on wheat please.

--

Situation: Driving by Java Heaven.

Megan's Brain: Ooooh, maybe I should stop and get a coffee.

Megan's Brain: NO.

--

Situation: Picking up Shepherd from Rick's (father in laws) house.

Rick: Want something to drink?

Megan's Brain: Dr. Pepper.

Megan: Water would be great!

--

Situation: Coworker brings in cookies.

Coworker: Hey Megan! I brought cookies. Want one?

Megan's Brain: YES!!!!!!!

Megan: Aww, that is so nice of you but no. I can't! Thank you!

--

It's a sad life I lead.

Your Internal Age

I was recently tooling around on the internet when I came across a website about your inner age. It was an interesting concept to me. It's almost like your brain bookmarks a time in your life and that's how you feel inside forever, regardless of your actual age. It also said some people don't feel like they have an inner age, which is probably because their brain just hasn't bookmarked it yet.

Toga party with Denise & Katie!

I've totally bookmarked. And for the rest of my life, I will feel 17. 

Here I am with a house, a full time job, bills, a husband, a son... and I still see myself as this young kid trying to figure it all out. Trying to survive. Wanting to be free. In my minds eye, I am still skinny, wearing Express jeans, sitting in the back of a truck with all my friends as we sing country music songs and talk about our important lives. 

There is such a freedom you feel as a kid. The whole world is on the horizon. I remember that I would think, if I could just be an adult, I could break free of the mess of  my family. I could live how I wanted. I could really invest in things that mattered to me.

17 year old Megan webcam chat screen capture. 

I see myself as that Megan. Young. Energized. Hopeful. And then I look in the mirror and realize that I'm tired. I'm a lot more cynical. I'm getting older. I'm trapped in this unhealthy body and lifestyle that I am struggling to change. I got myself in a rut and I'm frustrated with it. I don't like where I am. I don't like how far I've fallen from the girl I once was.

Cheesing it up at a concert!

A few nights ago, while Bryan and I were getting ready for bed and I was going through my long routine, I told him that he should start really taking care of his skin. I've recently become pretty into skincare with the goal of looking better, longer. I told him he better do the same or he's going to look more like Mick Jagger and less like David Beckham. Then, I told him I was mad at myself for throwing away my twenties. "This is my prime. When I'm supposed to be the most beautiful, my skin is supposed to be healthy and radiant. And I spent my twenties fat. I'll never get that time back."

And, as Bryan is wont to do, he looks at me and says, "Babe, we're late bloomers. We may not have gotten it all right in our twenties, but I think we are really going to rock out thirties."

Thirty is the new twenty...Right?

Tribe Tuesday: Boy's First Obstacle Course

Tribe Tuesday is where I talk about all things family/kid related, whether it's a recap of a family adventures, my experiences in parenting or an update on my kid(s). Tribe Tuesday will always be real, varying from the good, the bad and the awesome. 

This weekend was so busy for us! We had tons of things to do, but most importantly, we went to celebrate Bryan's cousins little girl, Bobbi. She turned four! I didn't ask permission so I'm not going to post any of the pictures of the actual party, but at one point, a snow cone truck pulled up! It was so neat and while all the kiddos were getting their treats, Shepherd and Bryan got to play a little on the inflated obstacle course.

Shepherd was not so stoked on being Bryan trying to put him down to roam and maaaaybe had a minor freak-out. It was pretty hilarious! BUT! He did try watermelon for the first time and he was a huge fan. 

On an unrelated note, they are renovating this historical house in Hanford and the progress is amazing. I love when people buy old houses and slowly but surely put love and life back into them! We are supposed to have dinner with them soon and I'm going to ask if I can snap a few photos of their newly renovated kitchen and dining room. So gorgeous. 

Overall, Shepherd loved watching the big kids play, he toddled around after them when he was gnawing on watermelon or squeezing strawberries to mush. It was great - I just wish we had be able to stay longer! It definitely made me REALLY excited for Shepherd's first birthday! 

My Favorite YouTube Beauty Vloggers

As I was recuperating from my cesarean section, I stumbled upon the amazing world of YouTube. It filled the late nights and early mornings with a baby. I would watch as (at first) I breast fed and then after when I pumped. It was a great way to pass the time.

I can definitely say that these girls helped solidify my love for make-up and I have definitely learned some new skills and honed some others from watching their methods. With all things, the way someone likes to do their make-up doesn't mean it's the right way, so you take what will work for you and you leave the rest!

Without further ado, here are my favorite beauty vloggers:

ItsJudyTime

Judy, a Seattle based vlogger, is probably my favorite beauty vlogger. She does the best First Impression style videos (where she tries out one product and updates over the day how it fares) and I love her tutorials. Judy has great delivery and shows a wide range of products - from drugstore to high end. She has a great personality and I love her little family! I also follow her families vlogs. Judy, Benji, Julianna and new twins Miya and Keira are just the cutest.

Shaaanxo

Shannon, from New Zealand, is one of my favorite vloggers because she takes looks that I would never think of and makes them wearable. She tries bold colors with her eyeshadow all the time, plus she likes to wear all kinds of crazy colors of lipstick - and she actually pulls it off! She has inspired me to be bold with my lipstick. She is absolutely gorgeous but is so....normal. She's really nerdy and quirky. I love it. Basically, she really challenges herself when it comes to looks, sometimes she just kind of wings it and figures it out along the way, which I really enjoy because that is kinda how I approach make-up. And she posts really regularly, which is nice!

EmilyNoel83

Emily, from Illinois (I think), went to college for journalism/news broadcasting and it definitely shows in her videos. She is super well spoken, posts very regularly, and even has an express channel with five minute reviews! I like her style, she wears make-up well and has a cute personality. The tutorials she posts are great for everyday wear, especially for work. Side note: She and her husband are expecting their first baby and I'm so stoked for them!

Tati

I don't know what it is about Tati but I like the way she speaks. Like her voice. Is that weird? I like the way that she presents herself and her videos are such great quality. I love her Hot or Not videos and her Tip Tuesday vlogs!  Oh! She also has Madness Mondays (or Monday Madness? Eh, whatever) videos where she goes shopping with coupons and shares what she got on sale and what coupons she used. They are great! She has a great mix of high-end and drugstore products and she always looks good! Also, she lives in LA (California, what what!) and her (fiance? husband?) got all of her vlogger friends to come out and do a video to propose to her. Adorable!

Karissa Pukas

Karissa hasn't been posting a lot lately, but I still like her tutorials. They are really wearable and she has a great personality! She is super cute, kind of nerdy, adores Harry Potter and has a great personality! Karissa is Canadian, but lives in Australia and is actually real-life friends with Shannon from Shaaanxo! What is weird though, is that when I discovered her videos, I thought for sure she would be really.... hoity-toity? Like in a obnoxious, stuck-up kind of way. But you watch one video and you just see that she is really normal, despite being gorgeous and travelling all over to Bali and Mexico and what not!

elleandish

Janelle is kind of annoying because she does all kinds of nail art and breaks it down so well that it makes you think, oh! I can totally do that! But.... no. She is self taught, runs her YouTube on the side and while not she doesn't do make-up tutorials, nails totally count as Beauty. She has some of the cutest designs! I just have absolutely no talent to recreate them. I can say that without a doubt, she has the best quality when it comes to nail tutorials. I haven't found anyone that has high quality, detailed videos of their nail art, plus her graphics and music are always on point. 

If you are looking for some great vloggers, I hope you give these girls a shot! It was actually hard to choose because I subscribe to a bunch of channels, but I think I enjoy these girls' videos above the others. Do you have any favorite vlog channels? I'm always looking for more!

*Psst. I took screenshots of each of these girls YouTube Channels so you could get an idea of the overall vibe of their channels. All images belong to them. Please show them some love! 

Plum Paper Daily Planner Review (with pictures)

*Psst - I paid for my planner fair and square. Plum Paper doesn't know me from Adam. 

I've been searching for a planner for quite some time now. The last one I had was from the Mead OrganizHer series and I loved it. I actually went back to Target to grab another one and was so sad to see it was gone! I was bummed!

At first I thought, well, I can buy a Erin Condren fancy Life Planner! But when I looked into it I knew it wasn't practical for me. It didn't have everything I needed in a way that I needed it. Ya know?

So, the search went on. Of course I turned to Etsy and that is when I stumbled on Plum Paper Designs Daily Planners.

They have a bunch of different options for covers and varieties of planners. Along with a few others, they have family, school, fitness, regular planners and teacher planners. They are stinkin' adorable, with some customization features.

I went for the family planner, which is really neat. I was able to pick my design, plus add text to the front cover. Each day is separated by multiple sections that you have them customize when they print it.

I chose to have them label as Personal, Work, The Boys, Meals, Finances, Write/Blog, and kept the last one blank for whatever I may need it to be. 

The tabs are really sturdy, and each month is a varies in color. The months also include multiple note pages, and at the very end there are contact pages, special dates for multiple years, and a cute little double-sided pocket!

One feature that I really loved is you get to choose what month your planner starts on. I got a late jump on this so I didn't order until the end of January and it would need about a month to be printed and delivered. I chose for my planner to start in March 2014 and it ends February 2015. That means, every January I can place my order and my new planner shows up by the time my current one ends. I especially love this because December is already so hectic and costly I don't want to spend extra on top of everything else.

We all know January is usually filled with returns and is generally boring, so I love being a bit off schedule with my planner. I also love this because I feel good about recommending it now. Anyone that reads this and is interested in checking it out can do so now, without wasting money on unused months!

The nitty gritty: This planner is $35 - a total steal when compared to the Erin Condren versions. Be forewarned though, they get you on shipping - it's $10! And they use a flat rate parcel padded bag so I know they aren't spending that much to ship it. Still, even with shipping it's less than the Erin Condren version without shipping. Just wanted to keep it real for ya!

Anyways, I've been using it and I love it. It is exactly what I wanted and if you are searching for a planner, I feel completely at peace telling you to go check them out and see if one of their planners work for you!

Beauty Haul: March 2014 at CVS (Using Coupons/Rewards)

You all know that I coupon a bit, right? Well last week, there were a ton of coupons and great deals at CVS, so I picked up a few things! I figured I would share some thoughts on couponing, rewards in general and trying new products. 

I don't believe in using coupons for the sake of a deal. I coupon to save money on items I already plan to spend money on, thus, actually saving money! 

If you decide to start couponing, the most important thing to remember is that you don't buy something just because you have a coupon for it. There are a few times to break these rules, like when you are interested in trying out something new, or if you don't buy brand specific items. Or, maybe there is a fantastic deal on a pack of toothbrushes, where you end up paying $1.00. That is a great item to pick up to make care packages or donate to a local shelter!

I am very picky about the brands I use and I am the type of shopper that once I find out what I like and what works, I buy it for the rest of my life. For example, toilet paper. Did you know you can be allergic to toilet paper? I didn't either, until I went through puberty and learned that I am ridiculously allergic to Quilted Northern toilet paper. I'm also allergic to Dove soap. Olay products make my skin burn. 

Needless to say, when I try a new product, I expect a disaster and I try not to pay one penny more than I have too. Also, when I try something new and I don't break out in hives, small red bumps, feel like my skin is on fire or have a weird tingling feeling? I'm stoked. 

Even beauty products, I have to be careful with. My eyes are seriously sensitive and I cannot tell you how many times mascara has gotten into my eye and all of a sudden my eye ball is beet red, watery, itchy and swollen. 

Case in point, the new Bombshell lash mascara. I'm allergic to it. You want to know how I found out? 

Sometimes, when I go to sleep at night, I'll wash my face but not my eyes. Yeah I know, blah blah blah. I'm tired yo! Well, one night I fell asleep and when I woke up, my eyes were crusted shut and swollen. I was freaking out. I cleaned it all with warm water and opened my eyes to red, super gunky eyes. No bueno. The day before that I had worn fake eyelashes (that I had taken off) and Bombshell mascara. I figured out later it was the mascara and not the eyelash glue. It was awful, ya'll. 

However, my overwhelming fear of having a bad reaction to a make-up product is vastly lower than my desire to try out every single beauty product I can get my hands on. I love trying new things and sure, it's a risk but to me, it's worth it. 

Except the toilet paper thing. I only buy the purple Cottonelle and that is ALL I will buy. Cause that just ain't a body part you gamble with. You get what I'm sayin'?

Back to my point, I like coupons. I do not buy anything just because of a coupon. I get excited when something I actually buy has a coupon. I also get excited when something I already want to try has a coupon.  

Which brings me to CVS and my coupon experience this last week. I've been wanting to try a few new things, specifically foundations. Typically, I don't like buying my foundations at the drugstore when Target sells them because Target is always $3-4 less than CVS and Rite-Aid, but Target has been out of my shade. I didn't really have a choice, but I was going to make sure I got enough bang for my buck. Armed with coupons, I hit up the CVS right by my house and purchased the following: 

First Transaction: 

 I had a Almay $5 off two products manufacturer coupon, plus CVS was running $6 extrabucks for two Almay eye products. I picked up the Intense i-color Volumizing Mascara in Mocha and the Intense i-color Shadow Stick for brown eyes. 

Cost Breakdown: $5.99 + 5.99 - $5.00 (man. coupon) = $6.98 (+6.00 extrabucks)

I had a Maybelline CVS $2 off $10 plus, I got $3 back in extracare bucks on any eyes, lips or nail products, so I picked up the Color Tattoo in Tough as Taupe and Color Show nail polish in Pretty in Peach. 

Cost Breakdown: $6.99 + 4.39 - $2.00 (cvs coupon) = $9.38 (+$3.00 extrabucks)

I had a $1.00 Wet 'n Wild product manufacturer coupon, which I used on the Megalast Lipstick in 907 Mauve. 

Cost Breakdown: $1.99 - $1 (man. coupon) = $.99.

Original Total: $27.26

Paid: $19.25

Saved: $8.01

Second Transaction: 

I had a $2.00 off Revlon purchase of over $12.00, plus CVS was running a Buy One, Get one 50%, plus I had a $6.00 coupon from the previous transaction. I grabbed the Revlon ColorStay foundation for Combination skin in Sand Beige and a Revlon duel-ended Eyeliner and Highlighter in Emerald.  

Cost Breakdown: $13.49 + $9.79 - $4.90 (sale) - $6.00 (extrabucks) - $2.00 (man. coupon) = $10.38

Original Total: $19.76

Paid: $11.76

Saved: $8.00

Third Transaction:

I had a $3.00 off any two Covergirl eyes, lip or nail manufacturer coupon so I picked up two lipsticks, in Honeyed and Delicious. 

Cost Breakdown: $8.29 + $8.29 - $3.00 (man. coupon) - 3.00 (extrabucks) = $10.58

Original Total: $17.83

Paid: $11.82

Saved: $6.01

Total Cost Summary: 

Original Total: $64.85

Paid: $42.83

Saved: $22.02

Remember, these were all things I wanted but weren't a necessity. Well, other than the foundation. I did need that. The other things I figured I would wait until I have coupons or saw sales on the things I'd like to have because I want to save as much as possible. With the coupons, sales and extrabucks, I was able to save a little over 30% of the total cost! 

A Weekend Away

Weekends bridge the gap between work days and are always something to look forward to. As much as I was excited for this weekend I wondered how I would do being away from Shepherd for the first time. I have not spent one night away from my baby since he was born.

I knew I needed this weekend. I knew that I needed to get away, to make an effort in a rekindled friendship, to feel a bit a freedom. Spread my wings, if you will.

It was delightful. I spent time talking about girl things. I laid on the beach. I read a book. I walked around the Venice Canals. I shopped. I had pretentious coffee and ate foods out of my comfort zone. I laughed. I indulged in pazookies from BJ's Brewhouse.

However, the whole time I had Shepherd on the brain. Every single moment there was the tinge of something missing. It was like I was walking around not wearing pants. You know?

I always knew I wasn't going to be a mom that refused to have girl weekends or get away. It's just not me. I have always had a problem with feeling like I was trapped. That I didn't have the freedom to do what I wanted when I wanted and I was worried that motherhood would feel like that. And it does, a lot of the time because my life is no longer mine. My interests have to be tempered so that his best interests are met. I cannot spend all day watching Veronica Mars because he needs to be stimulated and to burn energy and explore. Similarly, I can't spend all day out and about running to and fro because he needs rest and naps.

Bryan has always been very generous with me about needing to get out. Even it's just to run an errand or go to Target. I do not just want to be a wife, mother and employee. I need to have time to just be unfiltered Megan.

That is what this weekend was. I was just Megan. I liked it. I had fun hanging out with Denise and her roommates. I liked being in a big city lost in the shuffle. I am refreshed and renewed.

I need to be Megan. But, even though most days I feel like I suck at it, I love being a wife and mom. Coming home to my boys felt like the moment you put the last piece in the puzzle. Complete satisfaction.

March 2014 Ipsy Glam Bag (Review, Swatches, Value)

Ya'll know that in February I got my first Ipsy Glam Bag. Every month for $10 + tax I receive a cute make-up bag filled with four or five sample (or full size) make-up products from varying brands! It is so fun to get a little pink package in the mail every month!

Without further ado, here is what I received in the March 2014 Glam Bag! 

Contents, Links and Values: 

be a bombshell Bora Bora Eyeshadow Quad - $16.00 (Shadow names: Starlet, Bora Bora, Rock Bottom, Risky Business)
bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipstick in Get Ready - $7.50 value (full size is $18.00)
Vita Liberata Luxury 2-3 Week Tan Lotion for Face and Body in Medium - $7.10 (full size is $54.00)
Chella Eyeliner Pen in Indigo Blue - $24.00

Total Value: $54.60

Right off the bat, I can tell you that I'm not planning on using the Vita Liberata Tanning Lotion. Tanning lotion seriously scares the crap out of me. There are a few reasons why. 1. I don't feel that there is enough of a sample to adequately cover my face and body. 2. I don't want to pick one or the other because I don't want my face to be super light or darker than my body. Duh. 3. It doesn't come with a glove or a mitten or anything and this lady ain't walking around with weird hands. MAYBE - only a maybe here, guys - will I attempt it on my legs. I'll have to wait and see other Ipsters results though, for real.

Luckily, that sample is not a big ticket item in the overall value of the bag, so I don't feel super horrible if I don't use it.

Here are the swatches in artificial and natural lighting:

Top to bottom (and left to right below): Marvelous Moxie in Get Ready, Chella Eyeliner in Indigo Blue, be a bombshell eyeshadows in Starlet, Bora Bora, Rock Bottom, Risky Business.

As I type this, I still have all of those on my hand and there are already thoughts swirling in my head. 

The Moxie is a really pretty color but definitely feels sticky on my hand which I'm hoping won't be overly noticeable on the lips. The Indigo Blue eyeliner says its water-resistant, paraben free, smudge proof, no feathering, etc. Yup, I rubbed that sucker and there was only the tiniest bit of transfer. I'm actually kind of stoked about this color. I've been loving a really natural matte eye with a colored eyeliner wing and black eyeliner close to the lash line. Especially on days I don't want to get ready. As for water-resistant, eh. I totally licked my finger and ran it down the length of the swatch with a pretty quick swipe and there was definitely some smudge going on. 

Last, but not least, the eyeshadow. I've never had any Be a Bombshell products and three of the four colors are totally unimpressive to me. I had to rub vigorously and swatch them multiple times to get them to show up properly. 

In my opinion, the only color worth it's salt is the bottom left pan, Rock Bottom. The other three, Starlet, Bora Bora and Risky Business are okay. Maybe wet they would pack on more vibrant. If I had to list them in order of awesome it would be: Rock Bottom (bottom left), Risky Business, (bottom right), Starlet (top left) and Bora Bora (top right). Bora Bora just did not perform well for me at all. 

The print of this make-up bag was selected from the works of San Francisco artist Klari Reis. It is super cute! Overall, I'm still happy with my decision to sign up for Ipsy and think it's a great value. 

Now I'm off to figure out how to apply that self tanner while avoiding an epic disaster! Ciao!

--

For the Record: Ipsy doesn't know me. I pay for my bag just like err'body else. If you subscribe using my link, I do get some points! Yay! I'd appreciate it. :)

Random Pictures + Brain Dump

I keep having migraines. February I had about five legit migraines and probably six or seven migraine headaches. It's been an onslaught of pain and time wasted sleeping in a dark room. I have always hated this but it makes it worse when it takes away precious time from Shepherd. I'm so frustrated and stressed out about it that I'm starting to reconsider my position on taking a daily migraine medication. There are a ton of side effects with those and I really don't like taking preventative medicine, but when they get regular like this I'm not sure what else I can do. My quality of life is definitely affected. 

Bryan is obviously against it and wants us to really get things organized because he thinks it'll help with my stress level. So we are going to start there and see what happens. 

My no-make up make-up look along with crazy hair.

I'm going to LA this weekend to hang out with Denise and see where she lives and stuff. I'm so excited! We have plans to see the Veronica Mars movie on Friday night in Santa Monica and we are going to go to fancy coffee shops and scour thrift store for Hawaii outfits. This will be my first time leaving Shepherd overnight and I'm really apprehensive about it. LIKE REALLY. I have a conference in Sacramento the beginning of April so I figured, it's going to happen sooner or later. At least if I do it now I won't have to be stressing out during a work function.

Shepherd's First Time on a Swing. He was not impressed.

I'm chugging along on the weight loss front, slowly losing weight. The other day my coworker and friend (who is the food supervisor) told me that I'm not eating enough grains and protein and that could be why I'm having a ton of headaches. She reminded me that veggies are good for us but they don't stay with us. Our bodies easily digest them. I need to get better at having balanced meals and not just salads. I just want to shed this weight faster than I did the last time! I have things I need to look good for coming up fast.

This is a nail wrap I got from the dollar store. How cute is that?!

Do you ever try new beauty products or tips and it just doesn't work? I've had a few of those lately and it's mildly discouraging. I've been keeping up with my own manicures as best I can and they just don't turn out the same. I'll do the base coat, wait a few minutes, then I do thin coats of nail polish, but it seems like it takes forever to cover the nail and then it takes forever to dry. Then I wait a long time to do nail art but it always comes out funky and no matter how long I wait to dry it or how good to a topcoat I do it freaking messes UP! I follow the directions! I've done research. Why is this so dang difficult? I feel like I need to break it up. Day one: base coat and full nail. Day two: nail art/bling and top coat. Done! Seems a little excessive but it might be worth it to not rage when you notice your fresh mani just dented. 

I've been trying to put a little more effort into my hair because I was definitely relying on a pony to get me through most days. I tried this hairstyle I saw on pinterest and it turned out okay. I have some texture in my hair that worked for me and against me. Oh well. 

That same day I got home and got my new fedora hat! I bought it off of the app Vinted! I love it. I signed up and a few days later got a credit for up to $15 to buy something. All I had to do was pay shipping. I almost didn't use the credit but then I remember I wanted to get a hat for Hawaii and why not save a little. I stumbled across this white and black fedora and I knew I needed it in my life. It'll be perfect for the beach and shopping days. I'm definitely going to utilize that app to sell some things! (This is not sponsored in any way, obviously. My blog is much too small for anything like that!)

I ended up with a migraine Monday night so I decided to curl my hair and rock a red lip yesterday, give myself a little boost. I love that red lipstick! It's NYC 309 Sheer Red. I adore it. I feel like I look so funny in the picture, I snapped it quickly to show Denise and now I realize why, I parted my hair on the opposite side that usual! I've been doing that do give a little more bounce to my second day hair. I bought a smaller curling iron (a one inch) and have been using a different technique with it to give me different curls. Here is the same look after the red lip has faded. Natural is nice, but that red lip really gives the look a little somethin' somethin' extra, don't ya think?