April Favourites

It’s that time again….. time for my monthly favourites. The month of April was stressful and busy for me, but I did get some can’t-live-without-them things out of it, so I guess it’s not a complete write-off.

 

Wet N Wild Mega Last lipstick in Cherry Picking

I can’t do this post without mentioning the Wet N Wild Mega Last lipstick in Cherry Picking. I wore this several times throughout the month of April and every single time without fail, someone complimented me on it. It really is the perfect shade of magenta, and I will talk to anyone who will listen to my insane rantings on what an absolutely amazing lipstick the Wet N Wild ones are. Love. Obsessed. Bye.

 

Lancome Hypnose Doll Lashes mascara

The Lancome Hypnose Doll Lashes is quickly becoming my Holy Grail of mascara. I am obsessed with it ever since a Beauty Expert at Murale threw a deluxe sample of it in my bag last summer. The brush reminds me a lot of the L’Oreal Voluminous mascara which has long been a OG favourite of mine. I am obsessed with this mascara. It makes your lashes look extremely full and almost “false lashes” looking without clumping whatsoever. I recommend it to everyone looking for a new mascara to try and I get almost giddy with excitement over it. Lancome, you hit it out of the park again.

 

My Go-To shade for April: Half Baked

Used so much of Darkhorse for my crease this month that I hit pan

On a previous post where I discussed rediscovering old favourites, the original Urban Decay Naked palette was something I mentioned falling in love with again. I have used it almost exclusively for the entire month of April and I have absolutely loved every eyeshadow look I have created with it. The colours are so up my alley, a medley of brown shades from light to dark, with some beautiful bronze and gold tones as well. I have been LOVING my Naked palette this past month. Just one palette gives me the opportunity to create daytime looks as well as more sultrier night time look as well. I find myself excited about my morning makeup routine because I know I will get to reach for my beloved Naked palette again. An absolute favourite.

Hello my lovely

 

I know this was in my March favourites but I still can’t get over the Dior powder foundation brush. I am literally obsessed with it and stalk it on the daily. I feel sometimes like I want to elope with it and I am not even kidding. I LOVE IT SO FRICKEN MUCH. Everyone who wears powder foundation needs it in their life.

 

New album from Little Big Town

Girl Crush by Little Big Town is in heavy rotation in my life. My friend Nicole and I are both OBSESSED with it and I am just waiting for our wine-soaked live performance of the song to come to life at some point this summer. It is so beautiful, haunting and completely original. I actually held my son and I hostage in my vehicle in a parking lot once while it was playing just so I could let it finish. Complete favourite, and judging by how much I play it, could be one for quite some time.

Yaaaaas

 

Well, this one goes without saying. Game Of Thrones. As I write this, it has been not even 24 hours since the latest episode aired on Sunday night and I have spent most of my day consumed with theories, thoughts and feelings on what we witnessed last night. I thought last week’s episode was amazing, and this one completely knocked it out of the park. My obsession is so rampant that I told some friends of mine that if I ever get married I want to walk down the aisle to the theme song. I also started taking into consideration how certain character’s names would sound if I ever had another child and I have approached Natalie on more than one occasion that “if she really wanted to" (As if this statement ever came out of her mouth...) I guess I would go to Comic-Con with her. (Could you imagine? Meet my new son, Rhaegar. Complete insanity.) I look forward to Sunday evenings like Christmas each and every week. We also have started a tradition that I have talked about previously where we have Sunday Dinner and GOT on Sunday nights which has quickly become another favourite of mine. Amazing does not even begin to describe every episode. Even as I am writing this, my heart is aching for this TV show, and the sheer influence it has over me. I have turned into one of “those people” who don cloaks and engage in battle reenactments. My love for GOT is so profound that I simply do not even care anymore to hide it.

 

I already can't wait for next month's favourites and we are only four days in.... looks like May is shaping up to be a good makeup filled month!

Steal of a Deal

 

I am notoriously a makeup “snob”. I never shop the makeup wall in the drugstore. High-end is how I prefer my makeup. There is just something so luxurious about it, and I am willing to pay the money for a high-quality product. With that being said, there are a few things in my line up that are drugstore and low priced, and in my humble opinion, they are the best. (For me, anyway).

 

Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Facial Cleanser

The Neutrogena Foaming Face Cleanser is the best face wash I have ever used. I tend to have breakout prone skin, and I was constantly on the lookout for a good facial cleanser that would actually do the job of removing the layers of makeup I pack on every day without breaking me out or leaving my skin too dry. I tried everything. Vichy, Shiseido, Lancome…. You name it and I have tried it. Nothing worked. It wasn’t until about two years ago I decided to give the Neutrogena one a try. As I write this I am racking my brain trying to think of what made me buy it in the first place. Maybe it was on sale? I honestly cannot remember why. Anyways, I ended up falling in love with it. It is THE best face wash I have ever used. It takes off all my makeup and leaves my skin feeling supple, and not tight and dry as so many of the foaming ones do. The only criticism I would give it is that it doesn’t really “foam” up at all. Maybe it is because I wear so much makeup and maybe because I use a face cloth to wash my face with it. But I never notice a “lather” or a “foaming” effect. It’s definitely not the end of the world by any means. Just if I had so say anything at all negative about it that would be it.

 

L'Oreal Gentle Makeup Remover

For eye makeup remover, nothing beats the L’Oreal Waterproof eye makeup remover. It is THE BEST. This is another product where again, I have used many different brands over the years, some high end and some not. This is something that I refuse to be without. I stock up on it whenever it goes on sale. I probably have about four backups in my storage room because the thought of running out when I need it is inconceivable. I wear a lot of eye makeup, and some quite difficult to remove mascara and this takes everything off without leaving residue, left-behind mascara smudges or the greasy feel of a waterproof makeup remover. I AM OBSESSED. I will never use another eye makeup remover. Why would I? This one does everything I want it to and costs a fraction of the price of a high end one.

 

Ivory Lavender Body Wash

It’s no secret I love a good bubble bath in my life. I don’t have them nearly as much as I should, but when I do, I am always reminded by how good for my soul they are. I love soaking the stress of my day away in a tub of steaming hot water filled with succulent bubbles and watching Netflix on my iPad set up in the corner. Usually there is a glass of wine involved, not gonna lie. I’ve tried many different kinds of bubble bath products over the years. But I do have a confession to make. For the past 6 months I have used the Ivory body wash in Lavender in lieu of actual bubble bath gel. It is cost effective, does the same exact thing and smells wonderfully relaxing. It also costs about $2.99 (when it is on sale) and comes in a rather large bottle, compared to some bubble baths at Bath and Body Works which cost double or triple the price for half the size.

 

 

Blistex Lip Medex is the gold standard in my books for a lip moisturizer. Over the years I have tried to go “cooler” with my lip treatment choices. I’ve tried many different brands and nothing compares to good old Blistex. It’s nothing fancy but gets the job done. It is definitely one of those “security blanket” products I refuse to ever be without and has a secure home inside my lipgloss clutch.

 

I’m trying to be a little more adventurous with drugstore products. I recently bought a few drugstore makeup products to try so when I start using them, I can definitely let you guys know what I think. Doesn’t sound like anything too groundbreaking but to a diehard makeup “snob” like myself, it’s quite a feat.

Let's talk about hair

Although I am extremely creative and up for anything makeup-wise, there is one aspect of my life I live by the expression “Less is more”.

 

My hair.

 

My hair has always been a large part of my identity throughout my entire life. When I was a little girl, my hair was always long and always in some sort of ponytail (my personal favourite; the side-pony I rocked 80’s style complete with the infamous scrunchie). I then decided to cut it when I was around 10 years old into the style I sported for the next five years of my life…. The chin-length bob. My childhood best friend and I rocked this same exact haircut complete with soft hairbands that varied in colour for the same amount of time, until I decided to abandon the “look” completely when I entered high school. (Probably for the best). My parents were super strict with tattoos and piercings (none were allowed…. And for that I am forever thankful or else my teenage self would be sporting the Roxy logo as a Tramp Stamp FOR SURE). However, my mom gave me complete free reign to do whatever I wanted to my hair. I was allowed to start colouring it when I was thirteen, and I have never looked back. L’Oreal Feria became my addiction of choice, and if I must say, I was actually quite talented at home haircolour applications. I soaked up all tips and tricks I could learn from magazines. I varied over my highschool years from red, burgundy, light brown and dark brown. But it was in my senior year of high school that I went to the hair salon and transformed myself into a blonde. I loved it, but the upkeep grew far too expensive for a student budget. So, before my Grad ceremonies in May, I chopped all my hair off (into a cute just above my shoulders bob) and coloured it back to dark brown. After high school ended, I would again continue experimenting with hair colour but grow my hair out to long again. I even went back to blonde for a few years straight and I loved it. The key was I gradually worked up to the light blonde shade I ended up with. I was working at a hair salon at the time and I made it through my entire employment keeping my hair super long, but we started playing with lightening my hair gradually.

 



The shortest my hair has ever been circa 1987

Medium length and dark in 2009

 



Blonde in 2010

Short and "bronde" in 2012

 

Within the past two years I have never been so particular about my hair’s overall health as I am now. As my best friend Natalie and I joke, “It has reached 19 Kids and Counting lengths”….. or “I should probably be addressed as Ezekiel now considering I look Amish”. I’ve been able to keep my hair so healthy and long for a few reasons. First, I colour it once a year. You read that right. The girl who used to buy 4 boxes of the Revlon Frost and Glow streaking kits (Remember those?) and use them as all over hair colour when I was a teenager now doesn’t colour her hair. I also haven’t cut my hair in it will be two years this summer. The last time I blowdried my hair was when I got my last haircut two years ago. The last time my flat-iron was dusted off was for my company Christmas party in December. Heat styling tools never touch my mane. This may sound strange to some, but I never brush my hair either. I also rarely wear it in ponytails, for fear of breakage. My go-to style is nothing exciting. Long, straight and boring. I alternate between Moroccan Oil shampoo and conditioner and Pantene BB shampoo and conditioner. (If it were up to me I would only use Moroccan Oil, but it is quite pricey and I go through shampoo and conditioner like crazy). I never ever use any styling products. Sometimes I will run actual Moroccan oil through the ends of my hair after a shower, but that is a rare occasion. My belief is simple with regards to my hair: Less is More.

 

Current look

Natalie you have permission to attack my mane with scissors while I sleep when my hair gets to Ripley’s Believe it or Not lengths.

Winter Is Coming (And so are Sephora orders)

Littlefinger can suck it.

 

If you are unfamiliar with the above mentioned name, then this post may not be for you. The fifth season of Game Of Thrones kicked off three weeks ago, and so far the first three episodes have not disappointed. In fact the last episode, aired on April 26 titled “High Sparrow”, was one of my favourite ones to date. It did however bring an end to a rather strange and (to some….. namely my friends) gross obsession with the character Lord Petyr Baelish aka Littlefinger. I always liked him. From the beginning, he had a hand in nearly every single power move that resulted in untimely deaths and/or ultimate betrayals. I picked him to win it all. However, in “High Sparrow”, he committed an unforgivable sin, and made a move that cost him my devotion and support. Sansa Stark is my favourite (living) character. (RIP Robb L) I have always liked her, right from the beginning, and have always been alone in that regard. She isn’t really likeable, and started the show off by being portrayed as spoiled and bratty. I have always felt a connection with her, and she has always been my personal favourite. Littlefinger has always been obsessed with her, and (creepily) loved her. For those that don’t watch the show, their age difference is quite a lot… Sansa is around 16 or 17 on the show and Littlefinger is in his forties. I have been mocked mercilessly by my friends Natalie and Jordan for wanting their relationship to succeed and for loving them both. This past episode, he gives Sansa up to be married to a truly evil Ramsay Bolton, who is capable of horrors unlike anything I’ve ever heard of. I was watching the show with my friend Jordan and we both shouted out loud “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO” when he told Sansa of his intentions to marry her off to Ramsay. I also immediately launched into a profanity-laced tirade at the TV screen during the entire scene. (I believe it ended with my standing in front of the TV, flipping Littlefinger off with both hands, and screaming “BYE I’M DONE WITH YOU SEE YA LATER I HATE YOUR FACE.”) He has now moved into Public Enemy Number 1 (Living Edition) on my list, beating out Cersei Lannister and the Red Witch. (Stay away from Jon Snow.)

 

I have been thoroughly enjoying GOT this season. As I stated previously, I have never felt such a connection to a TV show before, with the exception of The Sopranos, and I treasure and soak up every single second of every single episode as it airs. I have also been enjoying Sunday Dinner/GOT night at my house every Sunday evening with Jordan. I didn’t think I would like watching it with the distraction of other people around me but I actually have found myself enjoying the process of watching it with him, and then rehashing the episode after it’s done. When he was over watching the second episode two weeks ago, I was perusing the Sephora website on my laptop while we waited for the magic hour, 9pm, to arrive. (I would NEVER give my attention to anything other than the TV when it’s on, let that be clear.) It was during the surprise VIB sale, and I was just “looking” online to see if they had anything cool.

 

They did.

 

I ended up ordering the Nars Virtual Domination Cheek Palette and the Sephora Lash Stash. The Nars palette is beautiful. Three shades of blush, a highlighter and their infamous “Laguna” bronzer all come in this sleek package. I have been loving blush palettes as of late. Looks like this Nars one will be no exception. The Lash Stash is a product I was really excited about. The concept is genius. Five deluxe samples of mascara with a gift certificate for a full sized one of your choice? Yes please! The mascaras included in the set are the Josie Maran Argan Oil mascara, Lancome Hypnose Drama, Tarte Lights Camera Flashes, TooFaced Better than Sex and Blinc Inc Amplified. I can’t wait to try them all! Plus, each deluxe sample lasts up to a month. So basically I have mascara for almost the next 9 months. Score! When I placed my Sephora order I chose three free fragrance samples. Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black, Tory Burch and NEST White Sandalwood. I also chose a 100 point reward with my Sephora points: The Living Proof Instant Texture Mist. I have heard so much about this line, and how much people have fallen in love with it. I am super pumped to try it out and see what I think.

 

It was definitely a memorable evening. Ordering makeup and watching my favourite show in the entire world = Happy Bri.

 

Excuse me while I plot Littlefinger’s demise. Nobody messes with Sansa.

Soundtracks to my life

These past few weeks have been rather stressful and busy for me. However I have maintained a slight sense of peace through all the madness by writing this blog, and my routine that surrounds doing just that. As you know, music plays a large part of my everyday life and I find I write better when I am in a calm and peaceful setting. (Pretty sure as would anyone…. Cool story Bri.) The music I listen to never varies; I listen to one album and one album alone.

Ultraviolence by Lana Del Rey is my writing soundtrack.  This album plays from the moment I settle down to write until the moment I stop, and sometimes long after. Through experience, I have found this album to relax me the most and therefore it gives me the best mindset in which to write. There is also something quite glamorous about Ultraviolence and almost cinematic. Every song is haunting and beautiful, and her voice has an almost hypnotic quality to it. My little routine of sitting down at my computer with a tea and hitting play on iTunes has become something I very much look forward to.

If I absolutely had to choose just one lone album to bring to a desert island and listen to for the rest of my life and only one album, it would hands down be Take Care by Drake. Every single song on that album is more amazing than the last. I am completely obsessed with it. I consider myself not to be an “album” person, and more of a “single” person. (I guess you could say for both songs and life….)  I can probably count on two hands the number of albums I have downloaded in the past five or so years. Upon my first listen of Take Care, I knew I absolutely had to have this album. The flow and order of the songs is perfect and amazing and I identify with so many of his lyrics it’s crazy. Take Care has been out for around three years now and I am not tired of it in the least. Not even when his newer album “Nothing Was The Same” came out (which is completely amazing as well) did it take over first place in the album contest. It is hands down my number one favourite music album of any genre and I could listen to it all day every day comfortably for the rest of time.

Coldplay is probably my favourite band. I love their style of music and all their songs. Their concert I went to in April 2012 in Edmonton was tied with Luke Bryan’s as the best one I had ever been to. I’ve listened to them for years, but it wasn’t until I was in a relationship with my ex-boyfriend that I took any of their beautiful lyrics to heart. Chris Martin really knows how to write a love song, and we both listened to a lot of Coldplay when we were together. We had actually broken up before and I was unable to listen to any Coldplay whatsoever without feeling heartbroken until we had gotten back together. Our breakup two years ago was under extremely different circumstances and there is just one song I don’t listen to anymore. Maybe that was a testament to my true feelings….. that I didn’t feel sadness listening to a band that held a special place in both of our hearts? Anyways I digress. Their album “Mylo Xyloto” is actually my favourite one out of them all. It reminds me of a special time in my life (when it came out) and I love all the songs on that album. Definitely one I can listen to over and over again and love just the same.

Of course I can’t write a post about favourite albums unless “In The Zone” by Britney Spears was mentioned. My favourite Britney album, and one of my all-time favourite albums of life. I love every song and it brings back great memories of being in high school and cheerleading and driving around with my friends on our way to Forever 21 to get our shop on. (Some things never change.) Sometimes I’ll do a Throwback Thursday and put on this album to dance around and reminisce. Britney was my favourite when I was growing up and she still is today. Love her.

1989 by Taylor Swift is not only a masterpiece but one of my favourite albums of all time. I am obsessed with every song and spent the latter part of 2014 solely listening to it every single day, and all day. Her lyrics are perfection, and she truly captures what I am feeling and thinking. Above all, her lyrics are the ones I identify with most. This album was my favourite one of 2014 and it made me fall in love with Taylor Swift even more than I already am. Obsessed.

Here’s to a week ahead filled with blogging and Lana Del Rey.

My Happy Place

Happy Places.

 

I know I have mentioned them often, and it is included on the posts where I interview my friends. I thought I would talk about one of mine in particular in more detail today. Some people have just one “Happy Place”, but I will admit I have several.

 

Initially, what comes to mind when asked about my “Happy Place” is my yearly trip to see my family. So many places I love, and have grown quite attached to, and they are all in the same place. Recently some friends of mine were discussing where we would go if we ever won the lottery. One at a time, places like Europe, Turks and Caicos, and Australia were named. When it came my turn to say where I would go, imagine the looks on their faces when I announced “Michigan”. (I will say they probably weren’t overly surprised to hear something like that come out of my mouth, this was the girl in fact that said if ever she won a lot of money she would buy a house in….. Beaumont? Dream big, girl.) It is such a beautiful state, filled with so many things I love. Both my son and I are addicted to eating at Panera (The Madison Heights location), and we try to go as many times as humanly possible while we are there. There is a TJ Maxx , Marshalls and a Target very close to there as well, and my mom loves shopping at all three so convincing my parents to head over there after lunch isn’t very hard whatsoever. They also have the BEST liquor section in a grocery store in Madison Heights called Meijer as well. I have found wine there for $4…. And it is GOOD wine. (Who am I kidding all wine is good wine in my books.)  Further north of Madison Heights, there is a beautiful mall in Troy called Somerset Mall. I go to two places in this mall, and only two places. MAC to replenish my sister’s makeup supply and Victoria’s Secret to get the NFL collection for PINK. Starting in the late summer, the VS PINK store creates a line of NFL and College apparel designed for girls, specifically for the city the store is located in. So, with the store being in Troy, I can get my hot little hands on every Detroit Lions and University of Michigan or Michigan State University piece of apparel they have . I am obsessed with it, and over the years have gotten some amazing pieces. Last year I got my favourite yoga leggings I have ever worn, with the University of Michigan logo emblazoned on the bottom side. They are very much loved. All above-mentioned things aside though, my one true Happy Place would be the day we venture to the Great Lakes Crossing Outlet mall in Auburn Hills. The drive there is quite scenic, and I get extremely excited as to what is to come during my shopping day. The outlet mall is insanely big, and they have so many stores I love. The Forever 21 is gigantic, I have always found a pair of jeans or two at True Religion that fit me perfectly and the Disney Store outlet is a big hit with my son. BUT, those aren’t my absolute favourite places to be. The Victoria’s Secret Outlet is Heaven on Earth for me. I am absolutely obsessed with this store. Rack upon rack of sale clothing, lingerie, perfume and everything else VS is known for, at a fraction of the regular price. I found my new favourite PINK lounge shirt in a neon yellow that I wear constantly while hanging out at home for $2.99 there last summer. I love nothing more than perusing in the VS outlet store for as long as the patience of my family waiting patiently in Bass Pro Shops will allow, and then continuing on to our favourite restaurant in Clarkston, the Union Woodshop. It was featured on Diners Drive-ins and Dives for a reason. Everything is delicious. They have a state of the art wood fire pizza oven which creates the most delicious margherita pizza I have ever tasted. But the piece de resistance? Their homemade Mac ‘n Cheese with bacon. My mouth is watering right now just thinking of it, and the portions are incredible. I think I likened it to the size of a turkey platter last summer when it arrived. Absolutely delectable. I highly suggest, if you can find it, watching the episode of Triple D where it was featured. They dedicated the entire episode to the Union Woodshop and accompanying brewery in Clarkston. Incredible and delicious. Of course the trip would not be complete unless a Detroit Lions game was attended and/or a Tigers baseball game as well. One of the best things that has ever happened to me in my life was when I got to go to Monday Night Football with my dad last year to see not only the Lions season opener, but MNF’s season opener. I have memories that will last me a lifetime of our amazing seats (row 20!), seeing many celebrities including Ben Affleck and his family in attendance (Stars: They’re just like US), and being with my dad proudly wearing his Barry Sanders throwback jersey while Barry Sanders was there himself, enjoying the game. I had the best trip back to see my family last summer and I absolutely cannot wait to go again. It might not sound like the most glamorous locale, but is my Happy Place for a reason. Yes, the reason is because I get to do my favourite things like shop, eat and drink wine….. however I would say the overall real reason is because I get to do all those things with my family.

Outside Comerica Park in August 2013

Enjoying a Tigers game in September 2014

When can I move in?

Monday Night Football September 2014

Are these barrels for sale or no?

 

Best restaurant ever

 

 

I have no regrets (Okay maybe a few)

I don’t often regret makeup products I have bought, probably because I feel like I have really good judgment when it comes to makeup. (Not for much else, let’s be real.) There was one product this year that I really didn’t like. And I really regret buying. It makes me sad, because I wanted to like it. Wanted to love it, actually. The Urban Decay Naked lipglosses were something I was excited to test out when I was at Sephora with Natalie for our Last Supper trip. I swatched them all on the back of my hand and really liked how the shade Lovechild looked. A few weeks later I went to the Shoppers that carries Urban Decay and I bought it. I was so excited to try it and I couldn’t wait to get ready the next morning so I could bust it out. I was left quite disappointed. The colour is a sheer pink when you swatch it on your hand, but when you apply it to your lips it looks completely different. Basically, it looks as though you are not wearing anything, just a clear lipgloss. The taste? HORRIBLE. It smells terrible and tastes worse. I really did not like this lipgloss at all. However, seeing as this wasn’t anything inexpensive, I toughed it out for the next week, hoping things would get better. They didn’t. I still keep it in my lipgloss bag for the simple fact I paid good money for it and it is brand new. I don’t know why I continue to lug it around considering I never wear it. It has gotten to the point where I can’t even try to wear it, as the smell is nausea-inducing. Sadness enveloped me though, because I really did want to love it. I just think it is not worth the money whatsoever.

It’s okay Urban Decay. I still love you.

Urban Decay Naked lipgloss in Lovechild