Wednesday Reviews: Drawing the Line

Tic-tac-toe three in a row! So this is the third week in a row of my reviews. I’m pretty excited that I have maintained this!

As a reminder, these are products I bought and use. If you purchase form a link, I get a small commission, but all opinions are my own.

This week, I have decided to talk about some eyeliners. I have quite the collection so I figured I would go with these three brands in eight colors.

First, the eyeliner I use the most is the Ulta Gel Eyeliner Pencil. I have four of this eyeliner and use three of them pretty much every week. The colors from the top down are Halo, Indigo, Penny and Silver Dust. These literally glide onto my eyelid. It is a very smooth application and it lasts all day. It is a bit tough to get off with a face wipe at the end of the day, but I think it’s worth it.I don’t use the halo color that much, mostly because it doesn’t show up too much and tends to just turn the pencil colors from the eye shadow.

I do love the sparkle and the pigmentation of these pencils. All but the halo really show up well against my eye shadow colors.

The top two colors in this swatch picture are both Julep Gel Eye Glider in Smoky Plum and Navy Smoke. These are really old and they don’t make them anymore, but these are their new similar formula. Once again, these are gel so they go on very smoothly. I prefer the Ulta ones because they are shiny and sparkly. I just really love to have sparkle on my eyes. These are more matte than sparkly.

The next one down is the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Stag. So this is my very favorite eyeliner as evidenced by how small it is. This is the eye liner that goes on the smoothest, stays on all day and comes off pretty easily with a make-up wipe. This color is a matte one, but I have been wanting to get more in pretty sparkly colors.

The last eyeliner is Marc Jacobs Beauty Highliner Matte Gel Eye Crayon Eyeliner. Can you tell I am obsessed with gel eyeliners. So I got this sample as a gift, and while it works as a black eyeliner, it is not my favorite. I find that it skips more than the others. I also am not a fan of the fact that it does not sharpen. Once the end gets dull, there is no way to get sharp again. I like it enough to not buy one to replace it, but not something I would buy.

What are some of your favorite gel liners? Do you have some non gel liners that go on very smoothly?

Let me know!

March 2017 Small Goals

It’s March! I am pretty excited about this month. This is Michael’s birthday month and my friend’s wedding month. I have some big stuff coming up and I’m pretty happy about it.

February was pretty productive. I was very mindful of my goals and it lead to some good results as shown below.

1. Make Quiet Time a Priority: I am very proud of accomplishing this. I have been getting ready for bed early and turning on some worship music to do my quiet time before bed. It has helped me feel more relaxed before bed. I think it has also helped me sleep better.
2. Post At Least Once a Week: So I skipped a week in there of posting. I did not plan out the posts well so that is something that I am trying to do better with this month.
3. Use My Planner More: So having a consistent quiet time has really helped with my planner. I have used my planner for Scripture journaling and for planning. Now to remember to put it all on my Google calendar as well so that Michael is aware.
4. Work-Out Once A Week: So since I am being honest, I skipped a week of working out as well as blogging. I do feel that I made up for that week by working out three times in the last week. I am following one of the programs from Nike Training Club. I used NTC in high school and it seems to be even better now.
5. Drink More Water: I have accomplished this pretty well. I reach for water instead of other things between meals. I drink a lot of water at work, although I still do have an afternoon coffee.

So now for my March goals. I did a lot of thinking about what I wanted to put as goals for this month. It will be a busy month and I don’t want to overload myself.

1. Post At Least Once a Week: This is a carry over and I have a plan in place to accomplish this so that’s a start.
2. Interact with Other Blogs: I have been wanting to interact more with other blogs. I have been following other blogs for a while, but without saying much. I am wanting to assert myself more.
3. Finish my Real Estate Finance Class: This class has been dragging for me. It’s not hard, but it’s extremely boring and hard to get through. I am going to do it this month though.
4. Finish my NTC Plan and Start a New One: I have gotten half way through this plan and I am all set to finish it. I am also planning on starting a new 6 week plan when I’m done.
5. Plan Michael’s Birthday: Michael’s birthday is at the end of the month and while I am not planning anything big (at his request), I do want to do something nice for him. I am going to make him the Tres Leches cake I made him from the Pioneer Woman last year, but I am hoping to do something a little extra.

So there you go! I have March all ready to go.

As usual, I am linking up with Nicole over at Writes Like A Girl for my monthly small goals.

What are your goals for this month? Do you have any big plans for March?

Wednesday Reviews: Mane Attraction

Happy Humpday and first day of March! I’m excited for a new month and for the continuation of my Wednesday Reviews.

Just to recap, Wednesday Reviews is a weekly series in which I will review products. Right now, these are products I buy and choose to share with you, my wonderful readers. While purchasing something from a link may mean a small commission for me, all opinions are my own.

So this week, I was trying to figure out what to review when someone complemented me on my hair. This is not the first time that someone has asked me what I do to my hair to keep it so full and soft looking (it feels soft too, but e the list of people who feel my hair is quite short). So I decided that I would review some of my hair products here.

First, I use this Matrix Style Link Turbo Dryer Blow Dry Spray on my damp hair. This spray truly has cut down my drying time. I don’t typically dry my hair on an everyday basis because it takes 10-15 minutes just to dry my hair. I have long thick hair that likes to stay wet. I use this spray even if I choose to air dry my hair. In my opinion, my hair dries faster either way with this spray.It also helps my hair be less frizzy after drying.

So on the days I choose to dry my hair, I use Hot Tool’s The Gold Touch Turbo Ionic Dryer. I bought this dryer after I received my first bonus. It was taking me so long to dry my hair and I knew that getting a better quality dryer would cost me some money. I read reviews and shopped around and ended up with this one. The part I liked the most was the price, but once I started to use it, I fell in love with it. It cut down my drying time by 5-7 minutes. I like the sleek look and the back comes off easily so I can clean out the lint. I have had this dryer for three years now and it still works great. I am not going to claim that it is the best hair dryer, but at this price point it is pretty good.

Even with my hair being not as frizzy as before after a blow dry, I still feel the need to straighten it. I typically use Garnier Fructis Style Sleek and Shine Flat Iron Perfector beforehand. I don’t have much attachment to this spray, but it’s cheap and seems to keep my hair from frying when I use my Solia Professional Ceramic Ion Flat Iron. This one is 6-7 years old so it is no longer sold, but Folica sells a very similar one here. I like this flat iron because it heats up quickly. AS you can probably tell, I hate spending a bunch of time doing my hair in the morning. I used a different flat iron for about year before coming back to this one because the other just took longer to get the end result. I can pass this through strands one time and it will be straight. I also like that the edges are rounded so I can curl my hair with it too if I want to take the time.

The last product I use is my very favorite.I got the Living Proof ‘No Frizz’ Humidity Shield in a sample from Sephora. I had never used Living Proof but heard good things that were soon confirmed. I used to spray hair spray on my brush and use it to tame my frizz, but it always left my hair feel sort of crinkly. Now, I spray some of this stuff on my brush and pass it through my hair after I straighten it and my hair looks and feels awesome. My hair feels softer and looks shinier after using this spray. Not only does it do good things for my hair cosmetically, but it also provides UV protection.

So I just realized that I started and ended with the two products I am most likely to buy again. The tools I hope to one day upgrade and the flat iron protector I choose because it’s cheap.

What are some of your favorite hair products? Are you ever surprised by complements you get?

 

 

 

Wednesday Reviews: Putting On My Face

You may remember that one of my February Small Goals was to post once a week. In order to help with that, I have decided to start a new series called Wednesday Reviews. I will be reviewing some products I am using at the time of the review. For now, these products are ones that I buy on my own and choose to share my opinions, however, I do get a small commission if you make a purchase through the links provided.

This week I wanted to talk about some of the products I use on my face on a daily basis. First, let me tell you a bit about the type of skin that I have so you can use that as a reference point when looking at these reviews. I have combination skin which means that it is oily in some places and dry in others. I have light skin with cool undertones and quite a bit of redness.I find that being aware of my skin’s features helps me make better decisions about how to care for it.

The first thing I put on my face after cleansing and moisturizing in the morning is face primer. Lately, I have been using Maybelline’s FaceStudio Master Prime Blur + Redness Contorl Primer. They have different varieties. This one is to use for blur and redness control. I have to say I am pretty neutral about it. It is lightweight and does not feel oily on my skin. I have a hard time telling just how much it reduces the redness in my face. I found myself still really needing a finishing spray to keep my make-up in place through out my work day. At only $9.99, I did not expect it to be perfect. I would probably buy it again if I don’t find something that works better at that price point.

I used to use Urban Decay foundation, but with my new budget, I had to start using something a little less pricey. I’ve tried a couple different foundations before settling on this e.l.f Flawless Finish Foundation in Porcelain. I like the quality of e.l.f products and the price can’t be beat. This foundation provides great coverage without being too heavy on my face. I use an off brand blending sponge off Amazon to put it on. Then, I use this NYX Above & Beyond Full Coverage Concealer. It blends really well into the foundation with my mini blender. It is also lightweight and covers up imperfections without looking caked on.

My last beauty share is this Makeup Revolution Pro Fix Oil Control Fixing Spray. The first time I saw this brand and the low price, I was intrigued. I tried the fixing spray and was pretty happy with it. I like that it helps keep my skin from feeling oily through out the day as well as keeping my make up on my face. It feels good on my skin when I spray it on and it dries pretty quickly. I don’t know that I would say it lasts 12 hours as the bottle claims, but it keeps for at least the 9-10 hours I’m at work.

So there is my thoughts and opinions on those products. Let me know if there is another type of product you would like me to review.

February Small Goals

Well, it’s officially February! I want to say that I can’t believe I didn’t find the time in January to write a single post, but actually I can believe. If there is one thing I have learned in this past month, it is to give myself grace. I had some unexpected things happen at work that pretty much doubled my workload, plus the organizations I volunteer with have started up again. I have been coming home exhausted almost every night, only to be reminded that there is more on my schedule than just work. January has been a busy month professionally and personally.

All that to say, blogging was not a priority in January as is reflected below in my January goal recap:

1. Start Blogging Again: See long rant above!
2. Start Hockey Wednesday: I’m half tempted to count this half done because I started a post, but if I’m being honest it falls under blogging not being a priority.
3. Stick to a Budget and Pay Off a Credit Card: First a little happy dance for accomplishing what I marked as “a big one.” Through a lot of hard work and putting clothes back on the rack, I ended the month with my budget in tact and payed off a credit card. Now I only have one credit card with a balance and have a payment plan for it.
4. Cut Out Carbs: Another big one accomplished. While I have lost some weight, the biggest plus for me is that I feel much healthier. Through meal planning, reading ingredients and using will power, I am off sugar and things that turn into sugar.
5. Start Scripture Journaling: So I started Scripture journaling, but then I stopped. I had my alarm set for 20 minuted before I needed to get up so I could use it to journal. That 20 minutes turned into my snooze time pretty early in January. Definitely something to work on in February.

So here is hoping for a better February goal-wise. Two of these goals are variations of unaccomplished January ones.

1. Make Quiet Time a Priority: This may mean going to bed earlier so I can get up earlier, or turning off the TV earlier and doing my quiet time with God at night. I’m gonna figure out what works best for me and put it into action.
2. Post At Least Once a Week: So I am going to start small. If I can manage more posts in a week, then I’ll have overachieved. I just feel that this goal is more realistic than saying I’m going to post twice or more a week.
3. Use My Planner More: I have gotten away from using my planner lately. I think the empty scripture page has gotten to me, so I don’t open it any more. I had a couple times in January when I lost track of dates, so I need to get back to being a bit more organized, especially with everything kicking into high gear.
4. Work-Out Once A Week: So now that I have my eating under control, I need to work toward being more active. Once again, I am being realistic and starting small.
5. Drink More Water: I need to be better at staying hydrated. I can seriously feel how dehydrated my body is at times, especially the morning after a day that I barely drank water. The goal here is really to try drinking at least two 24oz bottles of water a day. Once again, starting small and realistic.

Obviously the theme of this month is setting small realistic goals. I already have some ideas on how to accomplish some of these, but I am always open to suggestions, especially if you have found something that works for you.

As always, I’m linking with Nicole at Writes Like a Girl! Go check out her awesome blog as well as the other bloggers setting small goals for the month!

2017 Word & January Small Goals

Hello 2017 and World of the Internet. It has been a while! I took a long break from blogging this fall for a few reasons. The biggest being that my life seemed to be spiraling a bit and I needed to figure some stuff out. The good news is that I have done that for the most part and am now back to a place where I can write and post things again.

So since, I have not posted any small goals for a few months, I figure I’ll make this my 2017 and January goals.

First 2017! I can’t believe it is already a new year. I’m hoping for some big things this year, some of which are out of my control so we will see. I have decided to make too many specific goals/resolutions for 2017. I have chosen a word for this year though! That word is focus. I have found that recently my life has lacked focus. I have just been going through life hoping and wishing that things will happen to me. I really haven’t had a focus and it has taken a toll on me.

Here are some of the things I am going to focus on:

• Focus on God and His plan for me
• Focus on building my career
• Focus on who I am as a person and not as a relation
• Focus on my budget
• Focus on my health
• Focus on being joyful through everything

So now on to specific goals for January:

1. Start Blogging Again: I have missed blogging. I never had a ton of followers, but it has been a nice outlet and I look forward to doing it again. I am going to try to post more consistently and get stuff done ahead of time (I am working on this post on Sunday to publish on Monday).
2. Start Hockey Wednesday: This is something I have had in the works for a while, but I really want to dedicate a weekly post to hockey. I am working on a Hockey 101 series that I am hoping to start this month.
3. Stick to Budget and Pay Off A Credit Card: This is a big one. Budgets are easy in theory, but when that cute outfit you have been wanting stares at you in the face, budgets seem to be forgotten. I do have a budget laid out and I have scheduled the last payment on one my credit cards.
4. Cut Out Carbs: This is another big one. I have gained a lot of weight at the end of the year and it is not good for my health. I can feel how unhealthy my body is. One of my good friends cut out carbs and has had a lot of success, so I am going to lean onhere for help with this.
5. Start Scripture Journaling: I found the Intentional Planner, through Molly of Still Being Molly and I knew I had to have one. I got one and plan on using the Scripture Journaling part everyday. I really want to seek God’s purpose and plan for my life this year, so this is a good start.

So there you go! I am hoping that my few readers will keep me accountable to these goals and focuses. Please reach out and ask how I am doing on my goals for the  month.

Just like I used to, I am linking up with Nicole over at Writes Like A Girl and the rest of the goal setting bloggers!

Comment below with some of your goals or tips for any of mine!

Monday Musings Vol. 10: 10/17/16

*This post contains affiliate links.

This week has been pretty boring, but that is actually a good thing. I’ve had some time to relax and of course watch hockey!

On The Blog:

• I had planned on doing a post last Friday, but time got away from me.

Love & Life:

• Thursday, we had chicken fajitas and watched the Stars’ season opener.
• Friday, I went to Katy Trail Outpost with some friends. I highly recommend their Texas Mule.
• Sunday, Michael joined me at my mom’s for lunch which was nice.

Professional:

• I pretty much just worked a lo this week.

Recently Spotted:

• I’ve had my eye on this Lauren Conrad Pleated Fit & Flare Dress, but in purple polka dots. I’m considering getting it with a gift card I have.

Crafting:

• I have all the Christmas gifts for the boys done. Now I am just about on schedule on the first girl project. So excited!

Now Streaming:

• Podcast: I need some new ideas. I go through my podcasts so quickly.
• Music: NeedToBreathe is one of my favorite’s right now.
• TV: SO I just found out this week that I won’t be able to watch someof my favorite shows on Hulu. I’m pretty sad about that.

Reading:

• I’m really enjoying the Chuck Colson book.

Hockey:

• The NHL season started on Wednesday and Auston Matthews who was the number on draft pick scored 4 goals in his NHL debut. That is pretty good.
• Canadiens opened their season in Buffalo on Thursday and beat the Sabres 4-1 in regulation.
• The Stars opened their season on Thursday as well. They played the Anaheim Ducks at home in Dallas and won 4-2 in regulation.
• Saturday, the Canadiens played in Ottawa and loss to the Senators 4-3 in a shoot-out.
• The Stars also lost on the road on Saturday. In a high scoring 6-5 game, the Colorado Avalanche was able to come out on top.

Looking Forward To:

• A wine night on Thursday with my friends.
• UTA Terry Scholar and Alumni costume picnic in the afternoon on Saturday.
• A friend’s birthday party on Saturday evening.

Link Love:

• Love Jenn’s work appropriate Halloween costumes, since Halloween is on a Monday this year.
• Love Lauren Conrad’s list of things you should and shouldn’t compromise on in your love life.

 

Monday Musings Vol. 9: 10/10/16

*This post contains affiliate links.

Happy Thanksgiving! Today is Thanksgiving in Canada and I celebrate every year by making pumpkin cookies. I brought some to work today and sent some with Michael as well.

On The Blog:

• Check out my post about Fall Outfits. My first flat lay post and I think it turned out pretty well.

Love & Life:

• I had a Happy Hour with some of the girls from my small group on Wednesday and it was great to share a margarita and some time with my girls!
• Saturday was my friend, Nancy’s bridal shower. It was the cutest tea party theme.
• Saturday night, I hosted sister night. I always enjoy the time I get to spend with my sisters.
• Sunday, we made pumpkin cookies at my mom’s house.

Professional:

• I attended the TWU Terry Banquet last Monday. It was great to see how the program has grown. The speaker was great and said some really though provoking things.

Recently Purchased:

• I know I said I wasn’t buying anything, but I found this adorable dress at Kohl’s and I needed something for the wedding I have at the end of the month and the UTD Terry banquet.

Crafting:

• I should have the third project done this week! I’m pretty excited to move on to a new one that is different.

Now Streaming:

• Podcast: I have started listening to Molly Stillman’s Business with a Purpose podcast. It is really good and eye opening to see how many businesses really care about helping others out.
• Music: I’ve got Gavin DeGraw and Andy Grammer Pandora on all the time.
• TV: I started to watch Notorious at my sister’s suggestion. I like it quite a bit.

• My small group has started a study on Chuck Colson’s The Good Life. Pretty good so far.

Hockey:

• Friday night, we watched the Frozen Fury pre-season game that took place in Las Vegas. Dallas won so that was pretty great.
• We already have plans to watch the season opener on Thursday.

Looking Forward To:

• The NHL season starts this week!
• I have Small Group tonight. Every time I leave small group, I always feel so refreshed!

Link Love:

• Shay’s list of books she’s read lately is great and I’m wanting to add a few to my list of need to read.
• Tif looks so cute in this essential fall outfit. I wish I could pull it off the same way.

Is It October Yet?

The answer to that is yes, although here in Texas it does not feel like it. I love October and always look forward to it. I love breaking out my fall clothes. I love boots, leggings, sweaters and leggings with tights. Although I’m still waiting for cooler temps (below ninety, please), I have some fall outfits already planned out. In fact, I have a whole work week’s worth of fall outfits planned.

These Old Navy Pixie Chino pants are my favorite. The fit works perfectly with these booties. I love the studs and they make me feel just a little edgy. Also, this tank that I scored at TJ Maxx makes me think of pumpkins because of the color and I love the way it looks with this black sweater. I styled this outfit with this Charming Charlie tassel necklace and earring set.

I got these boot during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale at a great price and have looked forward to wearing them since they got delivered. I think they work perfectly with this sweater I got from one of the vendors that come to my building. It’s long enough to wear with leggings and still be appropriate for my office. My favorite part of this sweater is the lace insets. The owl necklace and silver leaf earrings worked perfectly without distracting from the lace insets.

My stepmom bought me this maxi skirt for our beach trip in August, but it is perfect for fall. I have been longing to to wear it with Old Navy cowl neck sweater with it. I love it when  I add a piece to my wardrobe that is multi-seasonal. I love wearing long necklaces with a cowl neck and this necklace has pearls (my favorite) to tie with the bracelet. Although I love boots, this outfit works better with my LC Lauren Conrad black lace flats from last year’s runway collection.

This dress just makes me so happy. I love the flouncy bottom on this. It was another building vendor find. It works perfectly with brown tights and my tall leather boots. This knit kimono works well with it, but I’m really hoping to find a brown cardigan to go with it . I love the way my gold Kendra Scott earrings go with this. The necklace I actually found at Charming Charlie just to match my earrings.

My last outfit is for Fridays. We get to wear jeans to the office and these Old Navy Curvy Skinnies are awesome. I love the way they fit and I always feel more confident in them. I put them with a Target sweater I got a few years ago that ties in my heeled black boots. The gunmetal with the blue in the necklace keep the color scheme working.

So small side note about the owl necklace. I got this necklace six years ago when Michael and I dated the first time. When we broke up,  I stopped wearing and only found it again recently and started wearing it again. I love this owl and it always makes me think of all the things that Michael and I have been through together even when we weren’t a couple.

What are some of the clothes items you are looking forward to styling for fall?

 

October Small Goals

It’s October! That means it is time for tights, boots, pumpkin, cinnamon & hockey. I have a pretty busy month in October, but is should be a lot of fun too. Before we get into my goals for this wonderful month, let’s recap my September goals.

1. Spruce Up My Resume: Done! This was actually not that hard, but needed to be done.
2. Finish Promulgated Contracts Class: Also, done! Now, I need to look into taking my next class.
3. Use To Do Lists More at Home: I’m counting this one even though I didn’t use them as much as I really want to get into the habit of doing. I did use them a few times in the month and it really helped my productivity.
4. Finish 3 Crochet Projects: I’ll have to settle for finishing 2. The good news is that I have really gotten the hang of this pattern so this third one should be done in no time!
5. Post 2x a Week: Yeah… that didn’t happen. This will be one of those goals that get pasted on to the next month!

So 3 out of 5 is not bad, but could be better. Part of my problem was probably that I didn’t keep my goals written down anywhere so I couldn’t easily reference them. Here are my October goals:

1. Post 2x a Week: Let’s try this again. I actually have posts planned for this so it should really help with that.
2. Finish 2 More Crochet Projects: I’m thinking 3 was a pretty high goal last month so I’m just hoping to get 2 done this month.
3. No Spending Extra Money: I’m really trying to build up my savings account more, so this month I am not spending extra money. I’m obviously still buying, groceries and gas as well as the occasional going out to eat with friends or family, but I am not going to spend money on a bunch of extra activities.
4. Use Instagram to Share Posts: I am going to make an effort to use Instagram to share and promote my posts.
5. Establish a Work-Out Routine: I really need to get back into a good work-out routine. I am not sure what that is going to look like yet, but it will be a priority this month.

Here’s to a good October! As always, I am linking up with Nicole at Writes Like a Girl and the rest of the wonderful Small Goals bloggers.

What are your goals for this wonderful month?