Inspiration A-Z

A... Anthropologie
B... Betsey Johnson
C... Cosmetics
D... Dixie Pixel
E... ELLE Magazine
F... Friends
G... Gwen Stefani
H... Holidays
I... Ice Cream
J... Jewelry
K... Kindergarteners
L... Love
M... Music
N... New York
O... Oranges
P... Patricia Field
Q... Quirks
R... Razzle Dazzle
S... Sephora
T... Threadbanger !!!!!!!!
U... Urban Outfitters
V... Velvet
W... Winning
X... X men
Y... Youtube
Z... ZOOEY DESCHANEL

Turning 27

Okay, so I KNOW 27 is the new 17. That knowledge, however, does not stop me from dreading the big 2-7. As a friend mentioned earlier today, I have a job that I love, people that I love who love me and my health. I should be happy to move forward. When did maturing become daunting? Wasn't it just yesterday I was longing for the day I wouldn't get carded at the liquor store? Why do I now find myself wishing I would?

Peter Thomas Roth Enviromental Repair Hydrating Gel

First off I want to say that I've had this product for over a year and have just now gotten around to using it. I got a pretty intense sunburn last week though, so I decided there was no better time to bust this out. It's fabulous. It is never irritating, didn't burn or sting my sensitive sunburnt skin. It actually helped to heal my skin and speed up the recovery time. My peeling was kept to a minimal. It's safe for any skin type so I think this may be my go to summer moisturizer for a while! I have also been using a ton of Tend Skin lately. I applied this over the Tend Skin and noticed that my skin heals quicker. This is definitely a product for me! I would recommend it to anyone seeking hydration and relief from sunburn, windburn or shaving irritation.


Alright, so I wrote this a while back. Who's counting? I still love this product and this should only go to reaffirm that I truly do love PTR's star child.

It's the LIttle Things That Mean So Much

*Clean sheets.....They smell fantastically fresh, are crisp and make your bed all the more welcoming.
*A smile.......If you're having a hard time getting yourself out of a funk, making someone else's day can do wonders for two.
*Your favorite song....Nothing makes you smile quite like the feeling that someone understand what you're going through, let alone someone you don't know
*Coming home to a clean house.....It's free and so relaxing.
*An old skool letter from a friend.....You know you like recieving them, why not spread the love???
*A call from a long lost friend.......The holidays are coming up, why not make up for lost time?
*Going the extra mile......even seemingly normal things like breakfast are elevated to the next level with a little extra care.

Baby, It's cold outside....

So...today was pretty standard. I went to work, the grocery store and came home. Basic enough on the surface. What makes this standard day stand out from all the rest is that upon arriving at home, we noticed an ice cream truck just leaving our neighborhood. Eric sprang from the car, flagged the guy down and purchased my first ever "from the ice cream truck treat". I cried I was so happy. Sure, that's something most people have done before but I grew up in a very rural area, so to me that was a huge ordeal. I am so excited I can't stop smiling! Yipee!!!!!!!!

What's Not 10-17-2009

Wimpy Guys

Allergies

Urban Outfitters Prices

Wet Seal exchange policy

Haters

Jalapenos

Getting hair dye on your favorite towel :(

What's Hot 10-17-2009

Ikea Furniture

Homemade Chili

Diet Sunkist

Zooey Deschanel

Felt

Dia de Los Muertos

Tulip Puffy Paint

Anthropologie displays

Where The Wild Things Are

Barnes and Noble

Hot Chocolate

Caramel Apple Cider

Laura Mercier Caviar Nail Enamel

Home Depot

The color orange

Listography

DesignSponge

Naughty Secretary Club

Sushi

Modge Podge

The $5.00 dress I picked up at Macy's

Guys in Scarves

Purity, It's a beautiful thing!

Alright, okay, I admit it. I'm addicted to cleansers. I think I've tried almost every one available at Sephora and Nordstrom. Every cleanser is, in my eyes, a new and exciting oppurtunity for great skin. I've found many that I like a lot but only one that I love. I always always buy Philosophy Purity. Now that they have it in a foam, I'm even more addicted to the gentle all in one superhero product! It takes off all my makeup, including eye makeup without irritating my skin to the slightest degree. Even though I'm a contact lens wearer, I can apply this product liberally all over my eyelids and open them to be perfectly fine! It works as a hydrating cleanser and toner as well and never leaves my skin feeling stripped of it's natural moisture! Now's the time to stock up!

Cargo Liquid Powder

From the moment I was introduced to this product, I've been in love with it! This product does it all!!! Use it as a primer for flawless, smooth as a rose petal base for your mineral makeup. It does a fabulous thing when applied underneath mineral foundations such as Bare Minerals on deeper skin tones: it nixes the ashiness and gives a lit from within glow. I absolutely love doing that!!! Apply it over your favorite liquid foundation, mine is Dior Forever, and it sets your makeup beautifully! It gives you that luminous look with optical light diffusers ala the Clinique Loose Gentle Light Powder. My absolute absolute FAVORITE use for this product though is clean up!!! If you're like me and your shadow brushes get a little too shadow laden and pigment rains down on your cheeks where only complexion products need go all too often, this product saves the day. Just a small amount of this miracle makeup swiped across the affected area and you're good to go. It takes away all the runaway pigment and you never have to remove any of your other makeup. I mean, yeah, I know I could put on my complexion products last or hold a tissue beneath my eyes but I'm a rebel. Cargo Liquid Powder saves the day!!! All that and it's oil free! I'm in LOVE!!

What they say...

Liquid Powder™ is a luxurious formula that offers the mattifying properties of a loose powder in a slim, flexible, carry-anywhere tube. This silky liquid turns into a velvety smooth matte finish upon application, and contains revolutionary light reflecting pigments that act as optical smoothing agents and help reduce the visibility of fine lines. Oil-free and suitable for all skin types, Liquid Powder™ can be used in place of a traditional powder, to set a woman's makeup for a polished finish that looks natural. Liquid Powder™ can also be used as a makeup primer, for the ultimate in multi-use functionality.

Chouffes

Okay, so gnomes are weird.  I get that.  My boyfriend, however, seems to have a slight obsession with these woodland creatures.  That's what inspired this project.  I made a tiki torch for his enjoyment from a bottle of our favorite gnome beer.  LOL.  

YOU TOO CAN HAVE A BRILLIANT WINE/BEER BOTTLE TORCH.  HERE'S HOW!

You will need...

1/2 by 1/2 coupling, from the hardware/plumbing section at HD

Teflon tape, same section

Tiki torch replacement wicks, wherever you can find them

Tiki fuel, ditto

Clean and dry the chosen bottle.

Insert the wick into the coupling.

Wrap the bottom side of the coupling with teflon tape.

Place piece inside bottle filled with fuel.  

You're done.

ENJOY. 

Tutorials will get better!!!  

I PROMISE!!!  

<3>

And so it begins....

I set a new goal for myself today.  It is to actually use the resources available to me and get 100 blog entries under my belt before New Years Eve of this year.  The plan is to do one every day I work on my lunch break.  Wish me luck!  Today, being the first installment of this particular plan, I have decided to give you all a little history on me.  This is my story.  Well, a part of it.

I was born in Hawaii.

I grew up in WV and TN.

I moved 4 hours away from everyone I knew to work for Sephora here in NC 3 years ago.

I left Sephora for a higher paying job that didn't work out.

I went to Nordstrom with Philosophy cosmetics.

I met my current boyfriend.

We moved to TN.   

I worked for Laura Mercier and BBW, an old employer.

We moved back.

I do freelance work.

I am involved in music.  

It's everywhere around me.

I craft everything and love "upcycling".  

I really hope my future posts will help y'all or at least make you smile!  

Love you all!

Thanks!

Christina

Make Up to Break Up???

Boscia's Make Up Break Up Cool Cleansing Oil

Although I'm not really one to be "on the bus" as far as natural skincare goes, I am truly impressed by this darling from Boscia that I consider an essential.

Here's the breakdown.

Gentleness 5 stars.  Even my eyes, surrounded by tons of (waterproof) mascara and (waterproof again) liner (even on the inner waterline) weren't irritated by this formula.

Efficiency. 5 stars.  I can run a cotton pad over my skin after using this product just once without turning up as much as a trace of remnant product.

Cost.  4 stars.  While $21 truly is a steal for this kind of pay off, I'd buy it twice as much if it were $19.  I consider all products under $20 to be guilt free purchases in this economy.  

About the oil...

I have oily skin and was weary at first.  However, you gals should know not all oil is bad.  Some oils cut oils as these do.  Check your caution at the door and proceed.

All in all, I love it.  You'll be amazed at how much you do too!

White Orchid Bridal with Dixie Pixel Photography

To say that I LOVE these pictures is an understatement. I couldn't be more happy to have been involved with this!  Tara Kneiser of Dixie Pixel Photography and Colleen Moore of White Orchid Bridal were the ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS CO-CONSPIRATORS for this shoot!!!  Enjoy guys and gals!!!