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!

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.

Monday Musings Vol. 8: 10/03/16

*This post contains affiliate links.*

It’s October! I pretty much love this month because everything is decorated for fall and the NHL season finally starts!

On The Blog:

• My Small Goals for October are up so check them out.
• Hoping to have another post up on Friday!

Love & Life:

• Michael got a car! His car was totaled 6 months ago in a hail storm and he has been riding his motorcycle everywhere since.
• Michael and I went to see That Thing You Do while it was at the Alamo Drafthouse. I loved that movie as a kid and Michael had never seen it. We went with our friends, Wes and Tricia so it was great to see them as well.
• I picked out new glasses via Warby Parker. I really enjoyed the experience and can’t wait for the glasses to come in!

Professional:

• I had a very productive Terry Officer Meeting this past week. We got a lot of dates on the calendar which was a goal for the year.

Recently Purchased:

• I got this pair of jeans from Old Navy. They had a huge sale and I had just found a hole in one of my pairs of jeans.
• I also picked up a lunch box while I was there because my old one had an unfortunate encounter with my toaster oven. Mine is gray with the word lunch on it in pink cursive.

Crafting:

• I finished 2/7 projects so far. I’m already making good progress on the third though!

Now Streaming:

• Podcast: I loved the recent podcast about Robbers’ Roost by Stuff You Missed in History Class.
• Music: Gavin DeGraw’s newest album is on repeat in preparation for his concert at the end of the month.
• TV: I’m watching The Voice and trying to decide who I really like.

Reading:

• Still working on  The Unbroken Line of the Moon (The Valhalla Series Book 1) by  Johanne Hildebrandt. It’s a pretty interesting historical fiction piece.
• My small group has started a study on Chuck Colson’s The Good Life. Pretty good so far.

Hockey:

• Team Canada won the World Cup of Hockey to no one’s surprise.
• The NHL season starts next week!! (I am so excited)

Looking Forward To:

• TWU Terry Banquet tonight
• My friend’s bridal shower on Saturday
• Sister Night on Saturday as well

Link Love:

• I may be referencing Cupcakes and Cashmere’s cheese plate post in the coming months. Michael loves cheese plates and they are easy to bring to holiday gatherings.

 

 

Monday Musings Vol. 1- 8/1/16

It’s Monday and August 1st! I hope everyone had a good weekend. Mine was actually pretty relaxing. I got to spend sometime with friends and family without a long to do list.

I’ve been considering doing a regular blog post for a while and have decided to start Monday Musings. This is a just a weekly way to talk about a few things going on and help keep me on a regular blogging schedule. Without further ado here is my first Monday Musings.

On The Blog:

• August Small Goals is going up this afternoon.
• I’m hoping to do a Quakecon packing post on Wednesday, but we will see.

Love & Life:

• Six years ago today, I met Michael. It seems like that was so long ago.
• My baby sister is moving into a new apartment this weekend. I am really excited for her.

Career:

• I became an Associate Member of IREM last month.
• I’m hoping to start my third Real Estate Class this week or next.
• I have a short work week because of Quakecon! Yay!

Recently Purchased:

• I got these boots from the #NSale. I can’t wait for Dallas to get a little cooler so I can wear them.
• I just bought this dress for my friends’ wedding in March. I’m excited to see it in person and try it on.

Crafting:

• I just started crocheting a puppy dog hat and diaper cover. My favorite yarn (Lily Sugar n’ Cream) was on sale so I had to pick some up and start a new project.
• I attempted this washi wall collage heart, but failed.

Now Streaming:

• Podcast: I just finished listening to this week’s Puck Podcast. I love this podcast about all things going on in the NHL. Highly recommend.
• Music: I heard an older Maroon 5 song last week and remembered how much I loved their less known songs.
• TV: I am working my way through West Wing on Netflix. I really like it even if it is a bit older.
• Gaming: I may be a little obsessed with Overwatch. I love that I finally have a team game that I like to play.

Reading:

• I am finishing up Journey’s End by Renee Ryan. Not my favorite book ever, but it’s an okay read.
• I’m finishing up Philippians for my Women’s Bible Study. I memorized the whole book when I was in high school, but I am really enjoying digging into it a little more.

Looking Forward To:

• Quakecon! We check-in on Wednesday!
• Seeing our friends who are in town for Quakecon.

Link Love:

• Loved reading about Stephanie’s geeky love story here.
• Nicole’s sentiments about wearing Spanx echoed my own.
• I loved a lot of these finds by Valery as seen in this video.

H54F: Spending Birthday Money

Another week has gone by and I have not had the chance to put a blog post together. Nothing super exciting has happened this week, but work has taken up a lot of my time and energy. When I get home, I’m pretty drained. I am really going to try to do better next month and set aside blogging time. Anyway, here are my top 5 this week.

Saturday, Michael and I went to a Frisco Roughriders baseball game. We went with the alumni association for the Terry Scholarship (I had this scholarship in college). I was in charge of the whole thing as the event coordinator, and we ended up with a great turn out. It was great to meet new people, see old friends and the all you can eat food didn’t hurt.

He loves getting on a freshly made bed.

Monday, I got home to packages. The sheets and bed skirt I ordered with my birthday gift card had come in. I was so excited because my bed redo is almost done now. I just want to replace my pillows some time soon. If anyone has recommendations for good pillows that are affordable let me know!

I may have fallen in love with Kendra Scott.

Tuesday, I spent more birthday money and I had my first Kendra Scott color bar experience. I got this pair of earrings and I got to pick the actual stones, not just the color. I was pretty excited. By the way, if you go to an actual store and show your ID, you get 50% off one item during your birthday month. I covered the rest of the price with a gift card from the best friend! My new Women’s Bible Study also started that evening. It was a great time of fellowship and Bible study. I’m excited for the next 5 weeks of the study.

So much work, but so yummy!

Wednesday, Michael and I took a break from work out Wednesday due to the fact that I forgot my tennis shoes. I did get to experiment with a new recipe. I made the Cheesy Jalapeno Popper Baked Stuffed Chicken from Skinnytaste (my favorite website for WW recipes). It was really good. Michael loved it and then cleaned up after dinner so I could relax. I have such a good boyfriend.

Rocksbox Kendra Scott and New Top = One Happy Bekah

This week I also got two new tops I got from Poshmark. I love that I can use credit from clothes I sold to buy more clothes. I got two tops and wore one yesterday. I absolutely loved my outfit and had to take a picture for Instagram. I love getting things in the mail!

We don’t really have any big plans for the weekend, just a lot of small plans. I’m just excited for a long weekend to relax and a short work week next week.

As always, I’m linking up with the H54F girls: Tif, Della & Katie!

Send me your pillow recommendations please! Also, what is your favorite quick Fourth of July dessert (I need to make one)?

H54F: Birthday Week

It’s Friday!!! It has been a long week even though it was my birthday week, but it’s finally over and I have a busy weekend ahead of me. Recapping this week, while linking up with the lovely H54F girls: Tif, Katie & Della.

1. Last Friday evening, I had my birthday dinner with my mom, stepdad and friends. We went to Urban Rio in this cute part of town (downtown Plano). The food was great and for dessert we had S’Mores. They bring out this little burner thing and you roast your marshmallows over it. My mom got me the duvet cover I wanted, which is a step in redecorating my room.
2. Saturday, Michael and I ran some errands before going to a friends’ birthday dinner in Addison. It was nice to hang out with a bunch of other couples. We got to see some of our good friends, Wes & Tricia two nights in a row: Friday for my birthday dinner and Saturday for Tricia’s birthday dinner.

   

   Loving these two Kendra Scott necklaces from Rocksbox.

3. Monday, I got my first Rocksbox. I decided to try it because I think this will be a great way for me to try new jewelry without buying it all. I got two Kendra Scott necklaces for layering and a set of House of Harlow earrings.
   

   
4. Wednesday was my actual birthday. I spent most of the day traveling for work, but Michael did pick me up from the airport and drove me to pick up my birthday gift: a new headset for my computer. He, also, let me pick what I wanted for dinner. I chose to grab Wing Stop to go and watch Broadchurch back at his place. A pretty good birthday once I got done with the traveling.
5. Yesterday, I took my final exam for my second Real Estate License course and I passed! Now only four more courses to go, before the big test!

I am looking forward to this weekend!  Tonight, I am celebrating my birthday with my dad and stepmom. We are going to a Canadian restaurant where I can get my favorite food, poutine! Tomorrow, Michael and I will celebrate Fathers’ Day with his dad, plus my sisters will sleepover at my place!

Curious about my goals for this next year? Check out my 26 before 26 post from yesterday!

H54F: Shopping and Animals

It has been a really long week this week. Nothing huge really happened, but it has been long. I’m excited for a fun weekend though. I get to hang with my older sister tomorrow before we head out to celebrate my dad’s birthday with dinner and a movie. I’m also excited for the Mothers’ Day picnic we have planned for my mom.

Here is my High Five for Friday recap of the week.

Shorts: Gap through Thred Up (similar)/ Top: Target through ThredUp (similar) 

1. I got my order from ThredUp that I mentioned in this post. I absolutely love the red shorts I got! I have been wanting a pair of colored shorts for a while. I can’t wait to wear them this weekend! I thought the teal shirt was a fun color as well. I got to wear to work today with my jeans. Love Jean Fridays at the office.

   

   Hat: Target (exact, similar)/ Purse (exact, real leather similar)/ Shoes: TOMS (exact, similar)

2. This month I decided to stay away from buying more clothes. Since I am working on losing weight and I have my spring/summer essentials, I decided to spend my budget on accessories. I got this adorable sun hat for summer days and a cute saddle bag for casual weekends. I also got these adorable TOMS flip flops in my latest Trunk Club. They were a bit pricey, but they do have some arch support which my feet need.

   

   I think he’s adorable!

3. Wednesday night was Work-Out Wednesday. Michael and I started this a while back and then stopped for a while when we got really busy. We started again this week. My legs still hurt from the lunges, but after the gym Michael made dinner. We had some yummy Pork Tenderloin and mixed veggies.
   

   Can’t get to me here!

   

   I want on your lap too!
4. Michael left for DreamHack in Austin yesterday, so that means I am watching the Chewie monster for the weekend. Mouse was not too happy about seeing his “friend”. He took to hiding behind my bike to get away from the dog. Eventually, he came around. Although the fight for my attention lasted all night and I got very little sleep.
5. Today is my dad’s birthday! We are celebrating tomorrow, but I wanted to give him a quick shout-out! Like I said on Instagram, he fostered my love for the important things in life: Jesus, hockey and Star Trek. Quick hockey note: the Stars won in overtime last night!!

As always I am linking up with Tif, Katie & Della as well as Meet at the Barre!

Do you have any big plans for Mothers’ Day weekend?

Third Thursday Threads: Blazer

Last week, I stumbled across Briana’s Third Thursday Threads announcement for April. I was pretty excited that it was blazers because I got a new blazer for Valentine’s Day that I love. This outfit is actually one I wore for the first time at the Terry Interviews.

Blazer: LC Lauren Conrad Crepe Blazer (Exact)/ Dress: Old Elle Fit and Flare (similar)/ Necklace: Christmas Gift (similar)/ Shoes: Old Steve Madden (similar)/ Purse: Charming Charlie (exact)/ Watch: Pebble Time Round (exact)

I love this blazer because it’s long and flowy! It doesn’t have a button in the front which is great for me. I’m kind of chesty so sometimes things that fit everywhere else don’t fit across my chest. I also love that it has pockets. It’s also made of a pretty thin fabric so I can wear it into the spring in Texas.

I wasn’t sure about wearing it with a short dress at first. I thought I might look a little weird, but when I first tried it with this blue dress I sort of fell in love with the outfit. I originally wore it with black heels, but my office is really business casual so for today I wore a pair of strappy Steve Maddens to dress it down a bit.

I’m regretting not doing my hair after looking at these pictures. Ever have those days when you feel like you have major fat face? That is today for me, but life goes on right! By the way, I took all these pictures. I found this new app on my Pebble watch that lets me access my phone camera and take photos from there. Obviously, my photography skills need some work!

I can’t wait to put this with some other spring work outfits. What are some of your favorite pieces for spring work wardrobe?

 

I’m linking with Briana’s Third Thursday Threads: Blazers for this post!