tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43953807835652012492024-03-05T04:22:51.523-08:00Call Me Dinaabidinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16545929553778845667noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395380783565201249.post-41243923702638716172018-03-01T13:06:00.002-08:002018-03-01T13:06:48.522-08:00I moved! You can find new posts at <a href="http://callmedina.com/" target="_blank">Call Me Dina</a>!abidinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16545929553778845667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395380783565201249.post-76504233770340313502018-01-08T05:30:00.000-08:002018-01-08T08:14:33.059-08:00How I Organize My Skincare & Makeup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgluis0nqMJvQ_8mleBpltDPQAa6FbC9EKaZnN7wAVvCcWxEE646SI91yCzfcM2Q3QUDmrFj7CpGYmC2pstVInzQBik68ij0IXu4KmuiuYj8vMec8bkv0deUB5X9blY07iRc0kGDKJpWl4/s1600/DSC_0685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgluis0nqMJvQ_8mleBpltDPQAa6FbC9EKaZnN7wAVvCcWxEE646SI91yCzfcM2Q3QUDmrFj7CpGYmC2pstVInzQBik68ij0IXu4KmuiuYj8vMec8bkv0deUB5X9blY07iRc0kGDKJpWl4/s1600/DSC_0685.jpg" /></a></div>
I live in a duplex with multiple roommates, so while it's beautiful and in a super convenient part of town, I don't have a ton of space to spread out my belongings. Since we are renting, I also can't install shelves or ... really do anything useful to the space whatsoever.<br />
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To avoid allowing my plethora of products to take over every square inch of counter space, I've invested in a <i>lot </i>of acrylic organizers. Just this week I bought the <a href="http://amzn.to/2COMUSn" target="_blank">vertical rotating tower</a> you see in the pictures! You can place each shelf exactly where you want it, so there's room for tall bottles and squat little jars. The top also has dividers, which I mostly use for samples I am currently trying to use up.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzX2jRNUn2gpTnOo4r-ja2Mdnj4as6RoIpg0INMfp0X_V-pqxWVkzNMVYDttpruPsihkV5eUDxkI4tAsXlSBwu1mXGQHc1Cb406oxBJbO1IdtiNn-TAjL4j7myAZYe_054ff2isscVGM/s1600/DSC_0686.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzX2jRNUn2gpTnOo4r-ja2Mdnj4as6RoIpg0INMfp0X_V-pqxWVkzNMVYDttpruPsihkV5eUDxkI4tAsXlSBwu1mXGQHc1Cb406oxBJbO1IdtiNn-TAjL4j7myAZYe_054ff2isscVGM/s1600/DSC_0686.jpg" /></a></div>
I would take photos of my vanity for you to see how I use other organizers, but ... well, it's a disorganized mess IN SPITE of everything, so I'll have to do that another day.<br />
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For my makeup, right now I'm using<a href="http://amzn.to/2FbALo2" target="_blank"> two of these</a>, <a href="http://amzn.to/2CQCrG2" target="_blank">this for my liquid lipsticks</a>, <a href="http://amzn.to/2FcDb6b" target="_blank">this for my bullet lipsticks</a>, <a href="http://amzn.to/2Fb0kFO" target="_blank">one of these for miscellaneous eyeshadow singles</a> (not the best for visibility, I know), and <a href="http://amzn.to/2m646Yy" target="_blank">two of these for my eyeshadow palettes</a> - I love these dividers, but I lay them down on the ground so I can stand my palettes up on their side for more space because 1) I have too many palettes and 2) I like to be able to see their packaging more clearly, and I sort them from tallest (or widest) palettes in the back and little quads or travel palettes in the front. Finally ... drumroll please ... the silliest but definitely the cutest of my organizing tidbits is this<a href="http://amzn.to/2qDCejY" target="_blank"> little rose gold nugget </a>that holds my beautyblenders!<br />
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xoabidinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16545929553778845667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395380783565201249.post-25580861474552383952018-01-06T05:00:00.000-08:002018-01-06T08:11:19.562-08:00Saturday Reading List<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you need <i>even more </i>Best Of Beauty 2017 content to get your new year off to a good start, check out Priya's <a href="http://www.priyatheblog.com/2018/01/best-of-beauty-2017.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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I loved <a href="https://intothegloss.com/2017/10/french-beauty-regimen/" target="_blank">this post</a> from Into the Gloss about an actual French woman's beauty regimen.<br />
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<a href="http://theeverygirl.com/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-basic-bitch/" target="_blank">The Rise & Fall of the Basic Bitch</a>: "In a lot of ways, it’s internalized misogyny given a name. It is the phrase 'I’m not like other girls,' packaged as an insult."<br />
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<a href="http://www.refinery29.com/2018/01/186945/golden-globes-red-carpet-protest-sexual-assault" target="_blank">The No-Win Conundrum Of The Golden Globes’ #MeToo Red Carpet</a><br />
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I'm absolutely in love with <a href="https://pictorial.jezebel.com/greta-garbos-apartment-looks-goddamn-incredible-1821808589" target="_blank">Greta Garbo's bedroom</a>. It appeals to my current obsession with rose-hued everything.<br />
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If you've got some time over the weekend, take a peek at goop's <a href="https://goop.com/detox-guide/" target="_blank">Detox Shopping Guide</a>. There are some admittedly wonderful products on here, but unfortunately I'm not sure I can say the same about the session with a "kitchen healer", the colon hydrotherapy, or the coffee enema.abidinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16545929553778845667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395380783565201249.post-40097073952614673872018-01-04T08:42:00.000-08:002018-02-02T11:06:55.035-08:00January + New Year, New Me<div>
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<br />I mean, I had to say it didn't I? I actually love January. Sure, it was 7° this week while I was standing outside trying to buy a shuttle pass, and yes my electricity bill is exorbitant after trying to keep my house at a measly 64°, and yes I'm not entirely sure when we will see sunlight again; however, there is a genuine rejuvenation and fresh start after the holiday season ends and I <i>live for it</i>.<br />
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4 days into the year and I'm actually keeping up with my resolutions so far (yes, 4 days is pretty good for me). I even resisted Madewell's 40% off sale-sale this morning, so I guess nothing can stop me now!!<br />
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I wanted to share some of my favorite purchases from the past few months - all of them have been serving me extremely well, and though some are pricier than I'd typically go for, I've been wearing them heavily so they've been earning their keep.<br />
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1) <b><a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/sZYa" target="_blank">Rose Gold Nikes</a></b>: I love the monochrome and the metallic finish on a casual shoe. Similar pairs <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/sRSx" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/sRQw" target="_blank">here</a>, and <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/sRTk" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
2)<b> <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/sZYo" target="_blank">Free People Drapey Thermal Top</a></b>: I bought two of these, in cream and burgundy, and I would wear them daily if I could. They're soft & slouchy and long enough to wear with leggings. Similar top <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/sRWK" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/sRVN" target="_blank">here</a>, and <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/sRVN" target="_blank">here </a>(but really the FP Laguna is the best).<br />
3) <b><a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/sZYG" target="_blank">Free People Teddy Peacoat</a></b>: THIS IS CURRENTLY MY FAVORITE THING I OWN. It has been <i>freezing </i>in Nashville (seriously, my weather app says it feels like -5<b>° </b>outside) and my teddy coat has been so cozy and warm. I've worn it every day since I bought it just before the holidays. They're a hot commodity right now, but you can still find somewhat similar <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/sRYD" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/sRZl" target="_blank">here</a>, and <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/sRWx" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
4) <b><a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/sZYU" target="_blank">Spanx Faux Leather Leggings</a></b>: I get it. Spending almost $100 on leggings is stupid. I would <i>never </i>have done it if I hadn't tried the stupid things on on a whim. Unfortunately, they're so worth the price tag - I have never felt better in a pair of leggings, and especially in a pair of pleather-finish leggings. They suck me in and smooth out every tiny smidgen of cellulite. I'm obsessed and wish I had the funds to own fifty pairs. If you're just looking for some faux leather leggings (without the ridiculous price tag) check out <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/sR2b" target="_blank">these</a>, <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/sR2U" target="_blank">these</a>, or <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/sR3O" target="_blank">these</a>!<br />
5) <b><a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/sZY0" target="_blank">Sam Edelman Statement Loafers</a></b>: My beautiful sparkly embroidered babies. They felt like butter the first time I put them on and I love when they catch the light. Other fun & more affordable options are <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/sR4P" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/sR09" target="_blank">here</a>, and <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/sSa8" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
6) <b><a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/sZY9" target="_blank">Free People Chunky Cardigan</a></b>: This cardigan was on my wishlist for months before I pulled the plug, and during a Nordstrom sale I finally went for it. I wear it constantly, around the house over pajamas and out and about when it's above freezing temps. It's a cozy cocoon. Other oversized cardis with a similar vibe can be found <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/sSfT" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/sSgA" target="_blank">here</a>, and <a href="http://shopstyle.it/l/sR97" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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I'm currently on a no-buy for January when it comes to clothes (and makeup) but considering the fact that my uniform has been the sneakers, leggings, thermal, and slouchy cardigan for a month straight, I think I'll manage.<br />
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xoxo</div>
abidinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16545929553778845667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395380783565201249.post-58430809041420872122018-01-01T12:35:00.001-08:002018-01-04T08:44:06.298-08:002017 Wrap Up - So Long, Farewell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When I was regularly using my bullet journal (I have since returned to my ultimate favorite, the <a href="http://www.passionplanner.com/dated-2018" target="_blank">Passion Planner</a>), I would end each month with a page of my "Currentlies" - what had I been reading and listening to and eating and watching, where had I visited and what was I hoping to do next, etc. In 2018, I'd like to get back into that routine, but for now I'm going to try to look back on my year in a similar way.<br />
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2017 was a mess. There was a lot of good, but there was a <i>lot</i> of bad - globally, nationally, and personally. I lost loved ones - to death, to addiction, to a simple drifting apart. I allowed mental illness (and the ultimate stabilization of it) to dig myself into a hole I'll be spending 2018 climbing back out of.<br />
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Nonetheless, some wonderful things also happened in 2017. As my sister, Emily, sarcastically reminded me just last night: "It's almost as if things aren't always black & white." (Eh, it's paraphrased.) In spite of intellectually arguing that almost everything is gray, I tend to stomp my feet when I can't pigeon hole something into a one-dimensional category. Here's to attempting to leave that in 2017, I guess.<br />
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<b><u>2017 Highlights</u></b><br />
<b>+</b> Started the year off at Disney World with my family<br />
+ I got to see a lot of plays! My grandmother (my Mimi!) instilled a love for theater in me at a long age, and it was nice to get to experience so many in 2017.<br />
+ I saw The Decemberists & Kesha in concert! It was a light year for me for music compared to plays, but those were two great ones I'm glad I didn't miss - both at the Ryman.<br />
+ I had a pretty good year professionally. I learned a lot, I grew a lot, and I had a great team around me.<br />
+ I became a semi-responsible adult and finally scheduled doctor's appointments here in Nashville & got medicated for my ~*~debilitating~*~ anxiety.<br />
+ I moved into a beautiful place in East Nashville that has a backyard for my giant pup <i>and </i>my little sister moved right across the street.<br />
+ James & I went to Quebec! We stayed in Montreal and took a day trip to Quebec City. One of my major goals for 2017 was to take a trip outside of the U.S. I'm so glad I was able to fulfill it, and really affordably, too.<br />
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<b><u>2017's "Currentlies"</u></b><br />
+ Thanks to <a href="https://www.moviepass.com/" target="_blank">Moviepass </a>(which I cannot recommend enough) I was able to see quite a few movies in theaters, but my favorite was probably <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lady_bird/" target="_blank">Lady Bird</a>, and the one I'm looking forward to most is <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_shape_of_water_2017/" target="_blank">The Shape of Water</a>.<br />
+ I watched a pretty ungodly amount of netflix this year. The two shows I enjoyed binge-ing most were <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/shameless" target="_blank">Shameless </a>and <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/sense8" target="_blank">Sense8</a>. I also finished <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/dark/s01/" target="_blank">Dark </a>last night, and it was extremely engaging and different and ended on a terrible cliff-hanger!!<br />
+ Though I <i>unfortunately</i> let James use my Spotify account for most of the year, and therefore don't have an accurate end-of-year playlist, I am 100% sure that my most listened to artist were Lana del Rey's <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/7xYiTrbTL57QO0bb4hXIKo" target="_blank">Lust for Life</a>, Lorde's <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/4oCGmYsAQOWt2ACWTpNUU6" target="_blank">Melodrama</a>, and Troye Sivan's<a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/5ouTDazE4LF9bVJPx1nlgW" target="_blank"> Blue Neighborhood</a>.<br />
+ I actually read this year! I was a voracious reader throughout my childhood and then I went to college and suddenly stopped. I suppose I had so much obligatory reading that I stopped taking joy in reading recreationally. I only finished 8 books this year, but it's a start. My favorites were <a href="http://amzn.to/2Cv7Tss" target="_blank">Call Me By Your Name</a>, <a href="http://amzn.to/2CrRcy9" target="_blank">Behind Her Eyes</a>, and<a href="http://amzn.to/2CqMBw5" target="_blank"> The Widow</a>.<br />
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<b><u>2018 Goals</u></b><br />
Moving forward, I do have some year-long goals for 2018. I want to be more consistent with my skincare routine. I want to tremendously limit my makeup purchases, horrifically having hit both Sephora Rouge and Ulta Platinum this year; I intend to not purchase anything new unless I have used up something from the same category in my current collection. I want to be mindful of my eating - I won't say I'm going to become a full-on vegetarian overnight, but I want to deliberately make choices that don't contribute to factory farming. I <i>will </i>only purchase cruelty-free beauty & bath products this year and hopefully forevermore! More technically, I want to learn how to use manual mode on my camera. I also want to practice my French or German every single day. As I mentioned previously, I want to read 12 books this year - I've already started on a couple!<br />
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I was more than ready for a new year. I know it's arbitrary, just a day like any other day, but I appreciate the feeling of renewal that each New Year's Day brings. Happy 2018!<br />
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xo,</div>
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dina</div>
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<br />abidinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16545929553778845667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395380783565201249.post-45725684207645901942017-12-30T08:43:00.001-08:002018-01-02T17:47:07.328-08:00Best in Beauty 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5SleO2yOarP54gUIBx48Z6Gl4Eff1X_Vq0WDw9kUPAPCdSYbtuN1-3z30-qxoq7qObFtEGl3DMhfIzKN3e1Wr2RtxOhe_fCldV-61nmNbABHQpDVwhsBjsNp1ljt5fAsBJuThpgJWF0/s1600/DSC_0656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5SleO2yOarP54gUIBx48Z6Gl4Eff1X_Vq0WDw9kUPAPCdSYbtuN1-3z30-qxoq7qObFtEGl3DMhfIzKN3e1Wr2RtxOhe_fCldV-61nmNbABHQpDVwhsBjsNp1ljt5fAsBJuThpgJWF0/s1600/DSC_0656.jpg" /></a></div>Long time, no see! Before the year wraps up - and isn't it absolutely wild that it's wrapping up ?? - I wanted to share some of my favorite beauty products of the year! They won't necessarily be new releases, but rather what I enjoyed using the most throughout the year.<br />
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<h3>Skincare</h3><br />
<ul><li>Daytime Moisturizer: <a href="https://www.glossier.com/products/priming-moisturizer" target="_blank">Glossier Priming Moisturizer</a>. Unless I am using the Glossier Skin Tint, I still wear a primer with this product, but as far as lightweight morning moisturizers go, the Glossier Priming Moisturizer is perfect for my sensitive skin! I've been meaning to pick up<a href="https://www.glossier.com/products/priming-moisturizer-rich" target="_blank"> the rich variation</a> for my dry winter skin, but so far the original version is working well enough for me. </li>
<li>Nighttime Moisturizer: <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/wild-rose-vitamin-c-advanced-brightening-sleeping-facial-P306883" target="_blank">Korres Wild Rose Advanced Sleeping Facial</a>. I <i>love </i>this overnight cream, which is soothing and smells of (you guessed it) roses. It's not a miracle in a jar, but it does make me wake up each morning with healthy, glowing skin, and I can always tell a difference when I don't use it. </li>
<li>General Moisturizer: <a href="https://www.firstaidbeauty.com/skin-care/product/body/ultra-repair-skin-cream" target="_blank">First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream</a>. There is now a<a href="http://www.ulta.com/ultra-repair-face-moisturizer?productId=xlsImpprod13491041" target="_blank"> face-specific</a> version of the Ultra Repair Cream, but for ages I took the product's description of "head-to-toe moisture" to mean I could use it on my face too, and it always worked beautifully. This is a no frills, super moisturizing, unscented lotion that never broke out my sensitive skin & worked just as well on my face as my elbows. </li>
<li>Eye Cream: <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/ginzing-refreshing-eye-cream-P297511" target="_blank">Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream</a>. I fully acknowledge that the concept of using a specific moisturizer for your eyes is hokey, and that the moisturizer I use on the the rest of my face works just as well on my delicate under-eye area, <i>but </i>I really enjoy the Origins GinZing. My eyes definitely look better after using and though I personally don't believe there's a real long-term effect, it makes my makeup go on much more smoothly and puffs out any potential fine lines. </li>
<li>Facial Cleanser: <a href="http://www.ulta.com/blemish-clearing-cleanser?productId=xlsImpprod3670095" target="_blank">Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Cleanser</a>. I've used this bad boy up to its very last drops! A face wash is a face wash, kind of - until you try to use something else for a week and realize that maybe, even though you're in your late 20's, you still desperately need some "blemish clearing" help. I don't know how great it is at makeup removal on its own, as I always double cleanse when I have a full face on. It does have a natural, earthy sort of smell that I enjoyed but which I could see bothering some people. </li>
<li>Budget Cleanser: <a href="https://www.target.com/p/garnier-naturals-soothing-milk-cleanser-rose-water-6-78-fl-oz/-/A-52541682" target="_blank">Garnier Naturals Soothing Milk Cleanser</a>. I received this product months ago, for free in exchange for a review, and because I am <i>a total spoiled brat </i>I was super unexcited due to it being a drugstore product. It's not that I have a particular problem with drugstore items, but I care a lot about the ~aesthetic~ of my top shelf & therefore tend toward glass bottles, minimal packaging, etc. HOWEVER, I ended up really loving this little baby! I use it like I would an oil cleanser or micellar water (rub it into dry skin then wipe off with cotton pads and follow with my standard face wash) and I loved the results. It's pink, lightly scented of roses, and wasn't remotely irritating to my whiny, sensitive skin. </li>
<li>Toner: <a href="https://www.beautylish.com/s/indie-lee-coq-10-toner" target="_blank">Indie Lee CoQ-10 Toner </a>. Speaking of my top shelf aesthetic, this toner from Indie Lee fits the bill <i>perfectly. </i>The beautiful packaging isn't the only reason it made this list, though, I promise. I have no idea what a CoQ-10 enzyme is, but I do know that this toner is alcohol-free so it doesn't dry my skin out, and it has cucumber, aloe, and hyaluronic acid to make it cooling, calming, and brightening (as opposed to the drugstore acne-fighting toners I grew up using). This is one of my top discoveries of 2017. </li>
<li>Face Mask: <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/rose-face-mask-P12336" target="_blank">Fresh Rose Face Mask</a>. I used a lot of wonderful masks this year, but the Fresh Rose mask is one of my favorites simply because it's a delight to use. It only sits on the skin for five minutes before being rinsed, it never dries down, it's gentle enough to be used daily, it's refreshing as can be and it has sweet little rose petals in it. Unlike a clay mask, it isn't abrasive at all and leaves your skin feeling plump and healthy. </li>
<li>Facial Spray: <a href="http://www.ulta.com/facial-spray-with-aloe-herb-rosewater?productId=xlsImpprod6200727" target="_blank">Mario Badescu Facial Spray</a>. If we hang out at all in real life, I'm 100% sure you've heard me talk about this dang spray. I keep one at work and in my car and in my handbag and in my bedroom. I realize now that I have a consistent rose water trend, and this one is no different. Again, I appreciate the fact that it's refreshing, soothing, and safe for sensitive skin. Last but not least, it's totally affordable. </li>
<li>Facial Oil: <a href="https://www.julep.com/boost-your-radiance.html" target="_blank">Julep Boost Your Radiance Facial Oil</a>. Julep carries my favorite of all the facial oils. I apply it on top of my nightly moisturizer if I need an extra boost of hydration & to lock everything in. While I generally recommend incorporating rosehip seed oil into your routine no matter what, the Julep Boost Your Radiance Oil takes your standard rosehip seed oil and adds shea butter, vitamin E, and bergamot oil for an extra glow-y, hydrating boost. </li>
<li>Serum: <a href="http://theordinary.com/product/rdn-buffet-30ml" target="_blank">The Ordinary Buffet Serum</a>. It's hard to choose a "best of" serum when there are so many varieties for so many different skin concerns, but the Ordinary <i>as a brand </i>is well-worth including on this list due to their no-frills and completely affordable line of products. Yes, you'll need to do your own research about which products you need and in what order you should use them in a daily routine, but it's so nice to purchase high-quality skincare at an affordable price & still have it look really nice (ie. glass bottles, minimal packaging, the usual). "Buffet" is one of the more expensive serums on The Ordinary's site at just under $15. It's an anti-aging serum that I use morning and night - at night, I'll often mix it with <a href="http://theordinary.com/product/rdn-lactic-acid-10pct-ha-2pct-30ml" target="_blank">The Ordinary's 10% Lactic Acid</a> (which is the main ingredient in <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/good-genes-all-in-one-lactic-acid-treatment-P309308" target="_blank">Sunday Riley Good Genes</a>) for some added chemical exfoliation. </li>
<li>Sunscreen: <a href="https://www.julep.com/no-excuses.html" target="_blank">Julep No Excuses Invisible Sunscreen Gel</a>. Sunscreen is hard and personal and, as with all skincare, your mileage may vary. However, I love Julep's gel-based, rosehip oil-infused sunscreen. It feels more like a lightweight moisturizer than a sunscreen and never leaves your skin with a white cast, nor does it break me out. The only downside is that it now makes any other sunscreen feel horribly heavy! </li>
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<h3>Makeup</h3><div><br />
</div><h4><i>Face</i></h4><div><ul><li>Primer: <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/first-light-priming-filter-P416055" target="_blank">Becca First Light Priming Filter</a>. Lovely, lightweight, and doesn't clog my pores. I've really enjoyed using the First Light primer this year, but would like to try the more popular <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/backlight-priming-filter-P399831" target="_blank">Backlight Priming Filter</a> for 2018 so I can compare the two. </li>
<li>Foundation: <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/your-skin-but-better-cc-cream-spf-50-P411885?skuId=1868140" target="_blank">It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream</a>. This is another holy grail item for me, which I've evangelized to all my friends. Yes, it's a CC Cream and not a foundation, but I rarely (if ever) wear anything heavier, and it has quite a bit more coverage than you'd expect from a CC Cream. I anticipate sticking with this for 2018, but if I branch out it would be to try the <a href="http://www.ulta.com/cc-cream-illumination-spf-50?productId=xlsImpprod12251079" target="_blank">Illumination variation</a> of the same product - lord knows I love to glow. </li>
<li>Concealer: <a href="http://www.ulta.com/double-duty-beauty-shape-tape-contour-concealer?productId=xlsImpprod14251035" target="_blank">Tarte Double Duty Shape Tape Contour Concealer</a>. This concealer does <i>not </i>mess around. A little goes a long way and it's fairly heavy duty - I avoid wearing it unless I'm fully made up, or I blend it out with a damp blending sponge. It is a pretty amazing miracle concealer, though, hiding redness & imperfections & dark spots better than any concealer I've ever used. </li>
<li>Budget Concealer: <a href="https://www.target.com/p/maybelline-174-fit-me-174-concealer/-/A-13660418" target="_blank">Maybelline Fit Me! Concealer</a>. Basic, lightweight, and doesn't crease. The only drugstore concealer I'd recommend at this point! If I'm doing a lighter makeup day/no makeup look, this is the concealer I reach for. </li>
<li>Blush: <a href="https://www.glossier.com/products/cloud-paint" target="_blank">Glossier Cloud Paint</a>. These! Are! The! Best! I wasn't sure I would like a cream blush, but the Glossier Cloud Paints are gorgeous. A little dab on your finger goes a long way, and they blend out seamlessly on your cheeks. I have Dusk and use it as a warm peachy nude blush, and I cannot wait to add the other three to my collection. I have some beautiful blushes from Tarte, Julep, Cargo, Makeup Geek, and the Balm, and I still feel like I'd toss them all for the sake of the four Cloud Paints. </li>
<li>Highlighter: <a href="https://www.dermstore.com/product_Baked+Gelato+Swirl+Illuminator_71838.htm" target="_blank">Laura Geller Diamond Dust Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator</a>. Listen - I am a highlighter girl. Like Ash, I've gotta catch 'em all. This was a hard category for me, and it is in <i>no way </i>an insult to my Anastasia (<a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/moonchild-glow-kit-P41983035" target="_blank">Moonchild </a>was so heavily used this year!) or Becca (<a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/shimmering-skin-perfector-pressed-prismatic-amethyst-P416786" target="_blank">Prismatic Amethyst</a> and <a href="http://www.ulta.com/limited-edition-shimmering-skin-perfector-pressed?productId=prod16661075" target="_blank">Lilac Geode</a> are my babies) or even the drugstore highlighters (<a href="http://www.ulta.com/megaglo-highlighting-powder?productId=xlsImpprod16411015&sku=2516739" target="_blank">Wet'n'Wild's Precious Petals</a> truly knocked it out of the park). However, I'd say the Laura Geller Diamond Dust was a standout product for me this year. It's a gorgeous white gelato swirl in the pan, but on the skin it has a vivid, hot pink shift without being glitter. It's absolutely stunning (though certainly not subtle) and I recommend it to anyone. </li>
<li>Contour: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/80572035/oak-bark-taupe-cool-toned-contouring" target="_blank">Pumpkin & Poppy Oak Bark Contour Powder</a>. I want to do an initial shout out to <a href="http://valerybrennan.com/bronzing-contouring-fair-skin/" target="_blank">this post from Valery Brennan</a> for helping me even believe there could be a contour powder that would suit my fair, cool-toned (MAC NW15) skin without turning me orange. She recommends some great products in that post - however, after using the <a href="https://www.temptalia.com/sephora-tranquil-26-colorful-contour-review-photos-swatches/" target="_blank">Sephora Collection Blush in "Tranquil"</a> (discontinued) for the earlier part of the year, I learned about the Oak Bark contour powder from <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/MakeupAddiction/" target="_blank">some random makeupaddiction reddit post</a>. I purchased it and, frankly, my mind was blown. It's cool and soft and is a contour that genuinely looks like a shadow being cast across your face. If you're like me and felt like you'd never be able to contour, please check this powder out - even though it's from an independent little etsy shop. Trust me. </li>
<li>Finishing Powder: <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/ambient-lighting-powder-P377723?skuId=1483510" target="_blank">Hourglass Ethereal Light Ambient Lighting Powder</a>. All of the Ambient Lighting Powders are gorgeous, I just happen to use Ethereal Light. I recommend them all. They add a subtle lit-from-within glow, they feel luxe, and I love them. </li>
<li>Budget Powder: <a href="http://www.ulta.com/color-icon-bronzer?productId=xlsImpprod16731017" target="_blank">Wet N' Wild Reserve Your Cabana Color Icon Bronzer</a>. If you can't afford/don't want to afford Hourglass, this baby is beyond words. It says bronzer - don't let that fool you. "Reserve Your Cabana" is a perfect, subtle glow finishing powder for fair-skinned girls, though since it works so beautifully as an all over face powder, I assume that darker shades could work similarly for darker skin tones. </li>
<li>Setting Spray: <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/all-nighter-long-lasting-makeup-setting-spray-P263504" target="_blank">Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray</a>. It's just the best. I tried quite a few setting sprays this year, and All Nighter truly does what it says it'll do - it makes your makeup last a long ass time. While I think<a href="http://www.ulta.com/prepprime-fix?productId=xlsImpprod15921204" target="_blank"> Mac Fix+</a> is the best for applying foil eyeshadows, Urban Decay's are the best for actually setting your face and making it last.</li>
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</div><h4><i>Eyes</i></h4><div><div><ul><li>Mascara: <a href="http://www.ulta.com/superhero-elastic-stretch-volumizing-mascara?productId=xlsImpprod13631067" target="_blank">It Cosmetics Superhero Mascara</a>. Mascara preferences are so personal, but this was the big winner for me this year. It was lengthening and never, ever smudged under my eyes. </li>
<li>Budget Mascara: <a href="http://www.ulta.com/i-love-extreme-volume-waterproof-mascara?productId=xlsImpprod13561155" target="_blank">Essence Cosmetics I Love Extreme Volume Waterproof Mascara</a>. I never believed I could be so happy with a $4 mascara, but if you are searching for a waterproof mascara next summer, look for this big blue tube at Ulta. It makes my lashes look great and is a <i>chore </i>to remove. </li>
<li>Brow Product: <a href="https://www.glossier.com/products/boy-brow" target="_blank">Glossier Boy Brow</a>. I mean, at this point who <i>hasn't </i>heard of Glossier Boy Brow. I use Black because I like a bold brow. I love that it's quick and easy to apply while adding fullness to my brows and taming the little weirdos that want to go the wrong way. </li>
<li>Budget Brow Product: <a href="http://www.ulta.com/tinted-brow-mascara?productId=xlsImpprod11861069" target="_blank">Nyx Tinted Brow Mascara</a>. At half the cost & double the size of Glossier Boy Brow, Nyx is definitely the better value. It doesn't add quite as much fullness, but it does tint & tame and has a (slightly) wider shade range. </li>
<li>Eyeshadow Palette: <a href="https://colourpop.com/products/yes-please" target="_blank">Colourpop Yes, Please! </a>. Essentially released as a dupe for the<a href="http://www.ulta.com/prepprime-fix?productId=xlsImpprod15921204" target="_blank"> Natasha Denona Sunset Palette</a>, Yes Please really changed the game when it came to expectations for budget eyeshadows. The shadows are pigmented and buttery and cohesive and <i>on a personal level, </i>they were my first foray into the warm shadow trend. You can create a completely neutral look with this palette if you so choose, but the yellow and red pops are killer. It's on sale right now for <i>$12.80.</i></li>
<li>Eyeshadow Single: <a href="http://fyrinnae.com/rapunzel-had-extensions-loose-eye-shadow-/" target="_blank">Fyrinnae Cosmetics Rapunzel Had Extensions</a>. This single is STUNNING. It's a pale pink shadow with a golden shift that I apply over a sticky base like <a href="http://www.ulta.com/glitter-glue-glitter-shadow-primer?productId=xlsImpprod11771039" target="_blank">Too Faced Glitter Glue</a> or <a href="http://fyrinnae.com/powders-primers/pixie-epoxy/" target="_blank">Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy</a>. The closest mainstream shadow I can think of that could dupe this would be <a href="http://www.ulta.com/eyeshadow?productId=xlsImpprod4350375" target="_blank">Urban Decay Fireball</a>, but it still doesn't have the downright ethereal effect that Rapunzel does. Rapunzel doesn't photograph or swatch well due to it's color shifting nature, but believe me when I say it's absolutely beautiful. </li>
<li>Eyeliner: <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/highliner-gel-crayon-P379434?skuId=1880079" target="_blank">Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Crayon Eyeliner</a>. I ended up buying cobalt and teal shades this year, in spite of the $25 price tag for a freakin' eyeliner. However, I'd been searching desperately for some bold shades that could last in my lower waterline for an entire day and these came highly recommended. Unfortunately, they're well worth the price tag and I'd happily buy the whole shade range if my budget allowed. I wasted so much money on blue eyeliners trying to dupe this one, so just take my word for it - Out of the Blue is the best true blue eyeliner on the market. Nothing else will stay in my waterline without fading or smudging. </li>
<li>Eyeshadow Pencil: <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/jumbo-liner-12hr-wear-waterproof-P284507?skuId=1311059" target="_blank">Sephora Collection Colorful Shadow & Liner in "Taupe"</a>. This little guy is another no-makeup-makeup go-to! I use it as a chubby eyeliner for some neutral brightening.</li>
<li>Misc. Eye Product: <a href="http://fyrinnae.com/powders-primers/pixie-epoxy/" target="_blank">Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy</a>. Pixie Epoxy was a game changer for me, but I'm not sure what to classify it as. I apply it over a primer and under whatever shimmer/metallic/duochrome/color-shifting (just never under a matte) eyeshadow I want to really pop, and the shadows always come out looking absolutely beautiful and 100 times better than they do without the epoxy. I don't know what it is, I don't know why it works, but I do believe that everyone needs it. </li>
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</div><h4><i>Lip</i></h4><div><ul><li>Lip Gloss: <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/gloss-bomb-universal-lip-luminizer-P67988453" target="_blank">Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb </a>. I keep this in my bag every single day. It's neutral and shimmery and works just as well on it's own or on top of other lipsticks. Warning to those who have scent sensitivities - there's a distinct vanilla scent, which I love, but I know it can be #controversial. </li>
<li>Lip Balm: <a href="http://www.ulta.com/smiths-rosebud-salve?productId=xlsImpprod12881005" target="_blank">Rosebud Perfume Co. Smith's Rosebud Salve</a>. In spite of seeing this balm lauded for literally years, I didn't try it until this Fall. What a fool I have been. Though it's in a tin, which annoys me, I don't care because it is so incredible moisturizing. I don't know what to say about it other than I've run the gamut with lip balms, from $3 gas station varieties to $60 French balms in glass jars, and this is <i>the best</i>.</li>
<li>Liquid Lip: <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/cream-lip-stain-liquid-lipstick-P281411?skuId=1805829" target="_blank">Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain</a>. If you haven't tried the Sephora brand lip creams, I highly recommend you go for it. I have tried a plethora of matte liquid lipsticks, and they consistently dry out my lips regardless of how many layers of balm I try to apply. Sephora's Cream Lip Stains dry down to a matte finish but feel smooth and creamy the entire time. I currently own <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/cream-lip-stain-liquid-lipstick-P281411?skuId=1805548" target="_blank">White Iris</a>, <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/cream-lip-stain-liquid-lipstick-P281411?skuId=1296102" target="_blank">Strawberry Kissed</a>, <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/cream-lip-stain-liquid-lipstick-P281411?skuId=1646868" target="_blank">African Violet</a>, <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/cream-lip-stain-liquid-lipstick-P281411?skuId=1646827" target="_blank">Cherry Blossom</a>, and<a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/cream-lip-stain-liquid-lipstick-P281411?skuId=1805829" target="_blank"> Chai Latte</a>, and I recommend each and every one of them. </li>
<li>High-end Bullet Lip: <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/luxetrance-trade-lipstick-P423642?skuId=2005817" target="_blank">Pat McGrath LuxeTrance Lipstick</a>. I purchased two shades of the Pat McGrath LuxeTrance lipsticks during a Sephora Rouge sale after I'd had them on my wishlist since their release. I chose <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/luxetrance-trade-lipstick-P423642?skuId=2005817" target="_blank">Beautiful Creature</a> and <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/luxetrance-trade-lipstick-P423642?skuId=2005916" target="_blank">Madame Greige</a> because if I'm dropping almost $40 on a lipstick, I wanted them to be shades I could wear daily. These lipsticks are undoubtedly a splurge purchase but they do feel wonderful on my lips - they don't need lip liner to stay put, they're opaque in one swipe, and they stay put well. When they start to fade, they fade evenly. These aren't MUST BUYs because I understand how pricey they are, but if you're in the market for a high-end lipstick, Pat McGrath makes some wonderful ones. </li>
<li>Mid-range Bullet Lip: <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/vice-lipstick-P409523?skuId=1827633" target="_blank">Urban Decay Vice Lipstick</a>. Urban Decay currently has <i>ninety-seven</i> shades of Vice Lipstick on their website, so they truly have something for everyone. If Pat McGrath is out of range, the Vice Lipsticks are SO GOOD. The packaging is appealing and the quality of most shades is excellent - creamy, long-lasting, and non-drying. I have <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/vice-lipstick-P409523?skuId=1827633" target="_blank">Backtalk</a>, <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/vice-lipstick-P409523?skuId=1828144" target="_blank">Rock Steady</a> (my current favorite red, from Gwen Stefani's collab), <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/vice-lipstick-P409523?skuId=1827823" target="_blank">Firebird</a>, <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/vice-lipstick-P409523?skuId=1827625" target="_blank">Amulet</a>, and <a href="tps://www.sephora.com/product/vice-lipstick-P409523?skuId=1827575" target="_blank">Crash</a>. </li>
<li>Best All Around:<a href="https://colourpop.com/collections/liquid-lipsticks?sort=manual&filter=ultra-satin-lip" target="_blank"> Colourpop Ultra Satin Liquid Lip</a>, <a href="https://colourpop.com/search?q=ultra%20glossy" target="_blank">Ultra Glossy Liquid Lip</a>, <a href="https://colourpop.com/search?q=ultra%20metallic%20lip" target="_blank">Ultra Metallic Lip</a>, <a href="https://colourpop.com/collections/lippie-stix" target="_blank">Lippie Stix</a>. Y'all! Yes, I <i>hate </i>Colourpop's Ultra Mattes, but everything else they put out is typically wonderful, affordable (most liquid lips and Lippie Stix are currently on sale for around $4 right now), and equal-or-better-than most higher end lip products. I won't list everything I own because I currently have 22 Colourpop lipsticks/glosses/etc, and that's after multiple destashings. If you are wanting to experiment with color, Colourpop is an affordable way to do it - Kat von D has some beautiful liquid lips, but if you only wear a metallic royal blue once a year, why spend $20+ on it? A few of my personal favorites are <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_1621212409"></span>Lumiere<span id="goog_1621212410"></span></a>, <a href="https://colourpop.com/products/marshmallow" target="_blank">Marshmallow</a>, and <a href="https://colourpop.com/products/bees-knees" target="_blank">Bee's Knees</a>. </li>
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</div><h3>Miscellaneous</h3><div><ul><li>Applicator: <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/beautyblender-P228913?skuId=1151869&icid2=beautyblender_original_collection_carousel:p228913" target="_blank">BeautyBlender</a>. Are you sick of hearing about beautyblenders? Well, me too. I'll just say that I love the effect that the damp sponge gives my foundation, especially during the dry winter season. This is #controversial, but I typically apply foundation with my fingers (like a moisturizer) and then buff out the edges/blend with the beautyblender. </li>
<li>Drugstore Applicator: <a href="http://www.ulta.com/miracle-complexion-sponge?productId=xlsImpprod5960824" target="_blank">Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge</a>. A perfectly fine dupe for the beautyblender if you don't feel like dropping $20 on a dumb sponge. </li>
<li>Nail Polish: <a href="https://www.julep.com/kay-classic-with-a-twist.html" target="_blank">Julep Polish in "Kay"</a>. This is far and away my favorite nail polish of the year. I've been working through my nail polishes since May 2016 (not allowing myself to reuse a polish until I've gone through all of mine ... and I still haven't finished going through them ...) and Kay was such a joy that I'm going to use it as my constant staple once I'm using my polishes like a normal person again. It looks like a standard neutral shimmer online, but in person it's absolutely color-changing - sometimes taupe, sometimes lavender, sometimes silver, sometimes gold. I got my mom one for Christmas since she loved it on me so much. Unfortunately, I've never seen a dupe like it, so I may be stuck with the Julep version for life. </li>
<li>Perfume: <a href="https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/jo-malone-london-english-pear-freesia-cologne-1-oz/3121119" target="_blank">Jo Malone English Pear & Freesia</a>, <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/replica-beach-walk-P385358?skuId=1687839" target="_blank">Maison Margiela 'REPLICA' Beach Walk</a>, <a href="https://www.glossier.com/products/glossier-you" target="_blank">Glossier You </a>. Perfume is so personal that it's hard to really recommend any. I wear perfume based on the seasons - English Pear in the spring and Beach Walk in the summer. For a year-round, neutral recommendation, Glossier You is excellent. My only petty qualm with it is that it has a pink frosted bottle (which I like) with a bright red lid (which I hate). </li>
<li>Clip-in Hair Extensions: <a href="http://prz.io/LLRzo8FN" target="_blank">Luxy Hair</a>. I researched clip-ins extensively last January when I decided to dye my hair dark. I'd been experiencing a lot of breakage (even though I was going to a salon) and I wanted something to add volume and length to my hair. If I had to have a "natural" hair color, I at least wanted to have full, flowing princess hair. I have had my Luxy extensions in Dark Brown for nearly a year now. I only wear them a few times a month, so I can't pretend to know how they'd hold up with consistent use, but I feel that I've gotten my money's worth. Any time I wear them I get tons of compliments and though I certainly don't <i>need </i>them (who does?) they boost my confidence every time I wear them. </li>
<li>Silly Purchase That I Love & Will Continue To Repurchase: <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/facial-cotton-P173726?skuId=101220" target="_blank">Shiseido Facial Cotton</a>. Please believe me when I say that I <i>know </i>I could be buying $2 cotton rounds from a drugstore. There's something about this plush cotton squares that I just adore - they're fluffy and never tear apart when I'm removing eye makeup or applying toner or removing nail polish. They're frivolous & I get that, but they genuinely make me happy. </li>
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</div>abidinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16545929553778845667noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395380783565201249.post-1056123186652762032017-11-05T11:10:00.000-08:002018-01-01T13:28:01.163-08:00Pumpkin Paradise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfbQKa4oXtD8l7dZ7oVSCoJx6afLWjKx8JyMsbGBbj_IhGizmu8ux6KSmMUPQdh_e68oFp3fYnsSITd4N439lDx1h7YsogwpqAcAY6SlZhWQYY7GuYq0uRxOflHw4EwYKK6HxSbdjofE/s1600/DSC_0398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfbQKa4oXtD8l7dZ7oVSCoJx6afLWjKx8JyMsbGBbj_IhGizmu8ux6KSmMUPQdh_e68oFp3fYnsSITd4N439lDx1h7YsogwpqAcAY6SlZhWQYY7GuYq0uRxOflHw4EwYKK6HxSbdjofE/s1600/DSC_0398.jpg" /></a></div>
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Why, oh why, can I not motivate myself to sit still and write a blog post? Je ne sais pas. I need to get up my October Boxycharm post, my Fall FabFitFun post - heck, I haven't even posted about my trip to montreal that was in <i>August</i>. I cannot seem to sit still anymore, and any time I do I feel like I'm wasting time. It's hard to sit back and take a minute to myself these days - days are so short and getting even shorter. </div>
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Just before Halloween, I went with my little sister Emily and her roommate, K8, to <a href="https://cheekwood.org/" target="_blank">Cheekwood</a>. I've lived in Nashville for close to a decade now, but I've never visited the estate, so what better time to visit than during their Harvest, when everything is covered in pumpkins and chrysanthemum blooms? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5DS_VYRKP5NJFO_5xaMVB3CPjfrZE2RuQWoQNgPxnGVtowSBrmUa7JZQLQTQ93kGmufespdt97bnEuYC7qg72nLta-WKyCDIW7v2EcuoPmvEzuNQTtqFbJ-436XKf5QChO57oXAvqrE/s1600/DSC_0413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="cheekwood harvest " border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5DS_VYRKP5NJFO_5xaMVB3CPjfrZE2RuQWoQNgPxnGVtowSBrmUa7JZQLQTQ93kGmufespdt97bnEuYC7qg72nLta-WKyCDIW7v2EcuoPmvEzuNQTtqFbJ-436XKf5QChO57oXAvqrE/s1600/DSC_0413.jpg" title="" /></a></div>
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The gardens were <i>so </i>charming. It was crowded because it was a Sunday afternoon, but I can only imagine how peaceful it would be to come out here with a blanket and a book some weekday. It also helped to settle into feeling like it's really Fall, though it was still warm enough to break a sweat - it's hard not to feel autumnal when you're surrounded by a million pumpkins. </div>
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Now I have to come back to see their holiday lights, which BY THE WAY they were already constructing before Halloween had even rolled around. I'm still over here with jack-o-lanterns on my front porch a week into November ... I'm sorry, but if it's 75 and sunny outside, it's just not Christmastime. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Asthxwruqk_CmsPjZHNeoJcsTexd8MqIr_2_I1m1913qSNU3NF2LfGni4a-DyyFw0hTZCXXvF89G7OQFkFI0EcFZ44pttNGaUquG1Tq7td7OxaAB-f109yilMrk1P3IBG5SP2fn9ZZ4/s1600/DSC_0422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="dragon's breath at cheekwood estate and gardens" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Asthxwruqk_CmsPjZHNeoJcsTexd8MqIr_2_I1m1913qSNU3NF2LfGni4a-DyyFw0hTZCXXvF89G7OQFkFI0EcFZ44pttNGaUquG1Tq7td7OxaAB-f109yilMrk1P3IBG5SP2fn9ZZ4/s1600/DSC_0422.jpg" title="" /></a></div>
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FYI, I'm wearing my <a href="https://www.luxyhair.com/" target="_blank">Luxy clip-in hair extensions</a> here. Could you tell? They're awesome and I've had my pair for almost a year now with absolutely no change to their quality (wearing them infrequently). I get the 160 gram classic set in Chocolate Brown, though my next purchase will probably be the Off Black shade now that I've gone a little darker and cooler with my hair. </div>
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My hair is long, but I've always wanted thick, luxurious princess hair. I mean, maybe if I hadn't spent the past few years bleaching my hair to hell and back it would still be as thick as it once was, but the fact of the matter is that it's not! Clip in extensions are my lazy girl dream come true - I mess with it if I feel like it, and I don't if I don't. </div>
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How cute are K8's mustardy-cognac converse? They're the first pair I've lusted after since I was in 11th grade. </div>
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But back to the main point of this post, I hope y'all had a happy Halloween and that you went outside and took advantage of it. I had ... drumroll please ... ONE TRICK OR TREATER!!! One, but hey, it gave me more time to watch Trick'r'Treat and end the night with a cocktail at Urban Cowboy Public House. </div>
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abidinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16545929553778845667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395380783565201249.post-49281439714295952222017-11-01T10:29:00.000-07:002017-12-30T08:44:49.745-08:00FabFitFun Fall 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />abidinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16545929553778845667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395380783565201249.post-79266342655752570922017-10-23T07:15:00.001-07:002017-12-30T08:45:07.927-08:00Boxycharm October 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />abidinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16545929553778845667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395380783565201249.post-15104491376465678172017-10-20T21:42:00.003-07:002017-12-31T06:28:41.261-08:00October Catch-up with Current Spooky Beauty FavoritesSpoiler Alert: <i>They aren't very spooky. </i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHv3uwzK-x-R0l-olGaLHIA0mVq4wk3MOZ1CU7SgEBmT06Q2hype6VSD2FfgBrfETtuuMDLk5jToxNWBgLhWOw9sM6mBDxP_YSKAyUtZ3uVXc_zB1hAjO-333cnLbQIT4gUYHEmj9TdY/s1600/October_Calendar_2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="rifle paper company constellations calendar october" border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHv3uwzK-x-R0l-olGaLHIA0mVq4wk3MOZ1CU7SgEBmT06Q2hype6VSD2FfgBrfETtuuMDLk5jToxNWBgLhWOw9sM6mBDxP_YSKAyUtZ3uVXc_zB1hAjO-333cnLbQIT4gUYHEmj9TdY/s1600/October_Calendar_2017.jpg" title="" /></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a>When I took the photos for this post, I intended it to be completely focused on the beauty & skincare products. However, the Nyx palette was the summer birthday gift from Ulta and I pressed one of the shadows in the quad myself, so I realized there was absolutely no point in recommending beauty products that would be inaccessible to anyone who wanted to try them. So while I'll recommend some products from the pictures, I've decided to redirect to an overall October post. After all, I can't imagine anything more fitting than writing a blog post about October when it's already 3 weeks into the month~<br />
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October is easily my favorite month of the year. Here in the Southeast it finally starts to cool down, the leaves change, we have our annual family camping trip in the Smokies, and it all around starts to feel like Fall. My mom has always gone hard when it comes to the holidays, so our family home this time of year is covered in decorations - most cozy, some creepy. My sisters and I marathon through seasonal movies; this year we've covered Scream 2, Corpse Bride, Hell House LLC, and Happy Death Day, to name a few. </div>
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This is the first year that I have been living in a space that I've been motivated to decorate myself, so I have my big jack-o-lantern set out and orange string lights around the front porch. My boyfriend's dad grew a pumpkin patch this year, so I've had a surplus of the darling things in all different colors - the three pumpkins in this picture all came from his patch! I've been burning my pumpkiny-appley-cinnamony candles and slipping on my fuzzy socks (since I'm avoiding turning on the heat this early, even if it does dip into the 40s overnight) and everything just feels <i>cheerful.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_PaZZ8NK6ISkBkNc3nAhyphenhyphensnXV7AjZFW8DqdmZ3dsiZHotCHLaXu87VRF7R4i9R1BvqLpgm8vIPvYNYFj5m-g_PmXyYlkWawx_QPfezeW6v5oRrcusXx7TByEwYHtIcaxP6dnIpUBNCvg/s1600/October_Fall_Beauty_Favorites-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Seasonal Fall Autumnal Angled Beauty Flatlay" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_PaZZ8NK6ISkBkNc3nAhyphenhyphensnXV7AjZFW8DqdmZ3dsiZHotCHLaXu87VRF7R4i9R1BvqLpgm8vIPvYNYFj5m-g_PmXyYlkWawx_QPfezeW6v5oRrcusXx7TByEwYHtIcaxP6dnIpUBNCvg/s1600/October_Fall_Beauty_Favorites-3.jpg" title="" /></a></div>
A couple of the beauty products that I've pulled out for the season (that you <i>can </i>still purchase) are the <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/pumpkin-enzymatic-dermal-resurfacer-P387261" target="_blank">Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask</a> and the <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/sugar-lip-caramel-hydrating-balm-P421243" target="_blank">Fresh Sugar Lip Caramel Hydrating Balm</a>. The PTR Pumpkin Mask smells like a dang pumpkin pie. I was almost teary-eyed when I tried it for the first time over the summer because it brought me that much joy, but I made myself put it away until the smell was appropriate for the season (because, yes, I'm a weirdo and care about these things). You can also try it in a mini size as part of a<a href="https://www.dermstore.com/product_Meet+Your+Mask+Kit_67234.htm" target="_blank"> PTR mask sampler kit</a>. It has been wonderful for my sensitive skin, but since I only allow myself to use it in the Fall, I will probably never purchase the full-size! For the lip balm - listen, I know. I've fussed and fussed about beauty products being packaged in jars, but lately I've realized it feels obnoxiously luxe to put <i>lip balm </i>on with a lip brush. It absolutely makes me feel like a brat in the best way. I've always loved (and highly recommend) and of the Fresh Sugar lip products, but this one is my current favorite because it's not tinted and has the faintest sweet, warm, vanilla caramel scent.<br />
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Another fun buy at this time of year are various indie beauty companies' seasonal perfumes! I'm partial to <a href="http://fyrinnae.com/perfumes/autumn-halloween/" target="_blank">Fyrinnae </a>because they create some of the most gorgeous eyeshadows on the planet, but there are plenty of indie options. Fyrinnae offers sample sizes, which are perfect for me (for eyeshadows and perfumes alike). This year I've tried Ghost Story, Snoqualmie Lodge, and Gilded Leaves - Gilded Leaves is my favorite of the three!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKM1JWE5x-P-axw63KUbOCvA2Uhgxg6l9EBC_dAR4uCf720w72zkuAutjEYHdeF_VNWpCzvwXK_D7lbQIWCRwVkPPycn5POe3ntgupxXTnkZ0AwTiPoW7r7gGfQRs2-2Zt1OikK-k9ZsU/s1600/October_Fall_Beauty_Favorites-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Swatches of Colourpop Ultra Metallic Lip in "DM", Nyx Wicked Lippie in "Risque", and Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in "Black Truffle"" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKM1JWE5x-P-axw63KUbOCvA2Uhgxg6l9EBC_dAR4uCf720w72zkuAutjEYHdeF_VNWpCzvwXK_D7lbQIWCRwVkPPycn5POe3ntgupxXTnkZ0AwTiPoW7r7gGfQRs2-2Zt1OikK-k9ZsU/s1600/October_Fall_Beauty_Favorites-6.jpg" title="" /></a></div>
And finally, though no one needs an excuse to wear a funky lipstick <i>in my humble opinion</i>, there's no better time than Halloween-season to step outside of your comfort zone! These three shades are all incredible: There's <a href="https://www.temptalia.com/product/colour-pop-ultra-metallic-liquid-lipstick/dm/" target="_blank">Colourpop Ultra Metallic Liquid Lip in "DM"</a>, which I've infuriatingly just discovered is discontinued (but check out<a href="https://www.nyxcosmetics.com/wicked-lippies/NYX_165.html" target="_blank"> Nyx Wicked Lippie in "Wrath"</a> for an extremely close orange-based metallic copper dupe), <a href="https://www.nyxcosmetics.com/wicked-lippies/NYX_165.html" target="_blank">Nyx Wicked Lippie in "Risque"</a>, a deep, metallic green, and <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/amuse-bouche-lipstick-P405057?skuId=1796614&icid2=products%20grid:p405057" target="_blank">Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in "Black Truffle"</a>, a blackened violet shade with a satin finish.<br />
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I feel like I'm finally coming <i>out </i>of hibernation right as nature is going into it. I wish it could be Autumn forever.abidinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16545929553778845667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395380783565201249.post-6471893669699536452017-10-12T09:03:00.000-07:002017-10-12T09:07:13.032-07:00Boxycharm September 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNy_QbGRiIBIZQMoxAMuzzAzSkmA-9AYC1GptEqL8XS6OKZ24aqSdUUcYgjYL_qwzkBqPHAF2ytcd_PGycRcuWf4_PF72JHvVtn3kQKvFWvU25D1ILcqIAYYAjk0fSi0ogUbmZMw3DsQ/s1600/Boxycharm_September_2017-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Boxycharm September 2017 Unboxing" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNy_QbGRiIBIZQMoxAMuzzAzSkmA-9AYC1GptEqL8XS6OKZ24aqSdUUcYgjYL_qwzkBqPHAF2ytcd_PGycRcuWf4_PF72JHvVtn3kQKvFWvU25D1ILcqIAYYAjk0fSi0ogUbmZMw3DsQ/s1600/Boxycharm_September_2017-1.jpg" title="" /></a></div>
My subscription boxes have become slim these days - I'm only subscribed to four, currently, which may be a lot for some people, but not for where I was at this point last year! My only monthly box is <a href="https://boxycharm.com/refer/Abiga-BTAMZYRB" target="_blank">Boxycharm</a>, which is a $21 per month beauty box that sends out 5 or 6 full-sized products which could be makeup, tools like brushes, sponges, or lash curlers, skincare, and hair care (but it is always predominantly makeup). It's surprising that I've dwindled down to only Boxycharm as my beauty subscription because ever since I started really getting into subscription boxes in May 2015, Boxycharm had always rubbed me the wrong way. People raved about it, but they seemed to send out junk I could find in the TJ Maxx makeup bins. However, I think Boxy has been improving <i>tremendously </i>over the past few months, and they released brand spoilers for the rest of the year (including Becca, Dr. Brandt, Mac, Tarte, etc.) that assures me that they have really stepped up their game in the world of beauty boxes.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>As a small personal aside, please forgive my photos for this post; I'm still figuring out my new camera and my new house and determining where workable light will be where, so photos should improve soon!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuymOHKaJZRuguJiVZ0tBvwrbdWP3LdjXFunZEms0b68p8fO_eDOu4Vizm9QhRcu2qHAlNr8SDXwgmV2hfm_NRtlwnveaHyL6D1-FtD8JQtLXRUAwRctGgpL4-7daPk4EQrAeBsIsdi7M/s1600/Boxycharm_September_2017-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Studio Makeup Loose Blush and Mac Eyebrow Pencil in Spiked, a Rich Brunette Shade, from Boxycharm September 2017" border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuymOHKaJZRuguJiVZ0tBvwrbdWP3LdjXFunZEms0b68p8fO_eDOu4Vizm9QhRcu2qHAlNr8SDXwgmV2hfm_NRtlwnveaHyL6D1-FtD8JQtLXRUAwRctGgpL4-7daPk4EQrAeBsIsdi7M/s1600/Boxycharm_September_2017-3.jpg" title="" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lyj3JmlzLdE-UJc0hk-i_tHzaDr6gmqT24fsi72iTuBd2E-2m0b18kbX7l0OPrTnPgapXRMmxvaiIahHa6DOhox1IKCIJqeGdaFwTvHRT022qBnNJSKC5_WG3Zu86A-fxG_O9VcBXS4/s1600/Boxycharm_September_2017-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Briogeo Don't Despair Repair Deep Condition hair mask, colourpop ultra satin liquid lip color in "mess around", and bareminerals face perfection foundation brush from Boxycharm September 2017" border="0" data-original-height="947" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lyj3JmlzLdE-UJc0hk-i_tHzaDr6gmqT24fsi72iTuBd2E-2m0b18kbX7l0OPrTnPgapXRMmxvaiIahHa6DOhox1IKCIJqeGdaFwTvHRT022qBnNJSKC5_WG3Zu86A-fxG_O9VcBXS4/s1600/Boxycharm_September_2017-4.jpg" title="" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7-UYVI-BE-JutreiliA5WQ109ZwJ9gkYYyixvwLgY7p3r3Lrn5_EvdOopqruY_dTlRxNZ7-8sOuNw_8cSteihxGcHZ5b4mTZmeN6XstTFixvWNjluxH0G9kXMmNcHEGoroX_Z64OEj8/s1600/Boxycharm_September_2017-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Swatches of StudioMakeup Loose Blush, Colourpop Ultra Satin Mess Around, and Mac Eyebrow Pencil in Spiked from Boxycharm September 2017" border="0" data-original-height="1153" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7-UYVI-BE-JutreiliA5WQ109ZwJ9gkYYyixvwLgY7p3r3Lrn5_EvdOopqruY_dTlRxNZ7-8sOuNw_8cSteihxGcHZ5b4mTZmeN6XstTFixvWNjluxH0G9kXMmNcHEGoroX_Z64OEj8/s1600/Boxycharm_September_2017-8.jpg" title="" /></a></div>
The September 2017 box included:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.studio-makeup.com/products/soft-blend-blush?variant=13858483143" target="_blank">Studio Makeup Luminous Loose Blush</a> (RV $17) | There is no loose blush on the Studio Makeup site right now, so I'm linking to a pressed blush in a similar shade. Though I am not a fan of loose powders, I do like the matte peachy shade of this blush and it's a unique add to me collection, so I'm happy to have it. </li>
<li><a href="https://www.maccosmetics.com/product/13834/263/products/makeup/eyes/brow/eye-brows#/shade/Spiked" target="_blank">MAC Eyebrow Pencil in "Spiked"</a> (RV $18) | The other shade offered this month was "Lingering", which is a soft taupe shade. While I <i>have never learned how to use an eyebrow pencil</i>, I think it's great that a full sized Mac product was included.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/dont-despair-repair-deep-conditioning-mask-P388628?skuId=1784636" target="_blank">Briogeo Don't Despair Repair Deep Conditioning Mask </a>(RV $18) | I've received a truly exceptional amount of Briogeo thanks to subscription boxes. While I've bought some of their products on my own (I think their <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/rosarco-blow-dry-perfection-heat-protectant-creme-P411359" target="_blank">blow dry cream</a> is exceptional), I've never needed to restock on the conditioning mask. I typically use this like standard conditioner due to how dry and damaged my hair is.</li>
<li><a href="https://colourpop.com/products/mess-around" target="_blank">Colourpop Ultra Satin Liquid Lip in "Mess Around"</a> (RV $6) | There were 5 or 6 different shades of the Colourpop Ultra Satins this month, and I love the one I received! The Colourpop site describes it as a midtone greige and Temptalia describes it as a neutral taupe, but on me (as you can see in the swatch above) it reads like a chocolate brown. It's a great shade for Fall and the Colourpop Ultra Satins are one of my absolute favorite liquid lip formulas. </li>
<li><a href="http://www.ulta.com/perfecting-face-brush?productId=xlsImpprod10111982" target="_blank">BareMinerals Perfecting Face Brush</a> (RV $28) | I <i>love</i> getting makeup brushes in boxes, mostly because 1) I'm lazy and hate washing my brushes and 2) I don't want to drop around $30 a brush because 3) due to point 1, I prefer to own tons of brushes. I haven't tried this guy yet because I typically apply foundation with my fingers & a <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/beautyblender-P228913" target="_blank">beautyblender</a>, but I own quite a few BareMinerals brushes and have always liked them. </li>
<li><a href="https://www.purcosmetics.com/soiree-diaries-palette" target="_blank">PUR Cosmetics Soiree Diaries Eyeshadow Palette</a> (RV $34) | The star of the box, in my opinion! Look at that pretty marble packaging! The rose gold accents! Check out the swatches below. I think this is a great neutral palette - the bottom row is absolutely gorgeous and metallic and the mattes are buttery and not patchy at all. I only wish there was more of a difference between Private Party & Mogul and Snazzy & Epic, which seem too similar to be used to create unique eye looks. </li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFKhP6AcPKI641Qk7eL64Vuv63IYvKr6PBx-4kYv4qq1zrT-TTEAC0gxXsrXvs3VLDNNqx5KcrtwTHF3T8-TYOuKPDncUvRhL_bnbg44jVqeLFcZdAUVLJzEtAgYffT0d4XwlxY8JO-k/s1600/Boxycharm_September_2017-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pur Minerals Soiree Diaries Palette from Boxycharm September 2017" border="0" data-original-height="1110" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFKhP6AcPKI641Qk7eL64Vuv63IYvKr6PBx-4kYv4qq1zrT-TTEAC0gxXsrXvs3VLDNNqx5KcrtwTHF3T8-TYOuKPDncUvRhL_bnbg44jVqeLFcZdAUVLJzEtAgYffT0d4XwlxY8JO-k/s1600/Boxycharm_September_2017-5.jpg" title="" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGuvU4Gw9ETuxHyZLqsLB1q-BxaXcPn_5Aaihyphenhyphen-1QMaEmSzZTeXR-FfU-Wd-P7IZ3jWpYJxjLTzPeTrFFbyJlhhkm_ItzFi9AP163hcjaM76NlRXV_h0unUZIDY7G9UbER1oDbY3Vwe9k/s1600/Boxycharm_September_2017-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Inside Pur Minerals Soiree Diaries Palette from Boxycharm September 2017" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGuvU4Gw9ETuxHyZLqsLB1q-BxaXcPn_5Aaihyphenhyphen-1QMaEmSzZTeXR-FfU-Wd-P7IZ3jWpYJxjLTzPeTrFFbyJlhhkm_ItzFi9AP163hcjaM76NlRXV_h0unUZIDY7G9UbER1oDbY3Vwe9k/s1600/Boxycharm_September_2017-6.jpg" title="" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGl2nQeFjHmVLHJnZBzddPX6jAl8QT0vb-4Ata2I6ZLlJ7tCHiqFohQBYS7oVIhKnE13bRnHy5nYPdDV5vsay-WUyn7vUiJSeA6XpNzc5VxjPVCxrtjjHkZmLlrw2huO94sRwuf006nbA/s1600/Boxycharm_September_2017-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Inside Pur Minerals Soiree Diaries Palette from Boxycharm September 2017" border="0" data-original-height="1206" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGl2nQeFjHmVLHJnZBzddPX6jAl8QT0vb-4Ata2I6ZLlJ7tCHiqFohQBYS7oVIhKnE13bRnHy5nYPdDV5vsay-WUyn7vUiJSeA6XpNzc5VxjPVCxrtjjHkZmLlrw2huO94sRwuf006nbA/s1600/Boxycharm_September_2017-7.jpg" title="" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkPsJjzzHlxyun3ikkHa_d5IBZhX5tjeBdWviz9ciXaeK67V_NCLaEKMflh7NePCgMxw8MAkh465d5vIVvQUpP1YVrNfvbpy_Vm-l7PrDat5zduZrqshe-6ZLye2GNHApU8Es0YHjUudE/s1600/Boxycharm_September_2017-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Top row swatches Pur Minerals Soiree Diaries Palette from Boxycharm September 2017" border="0" data-original-height="1434" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkPsJjzzHlxyun3ikkHa_d5IBZhX5tjeBdWviz9ciXaeK67V_NCLaEKMflh7NePCgMxw8MAkh465d5vIVvQUpP1YVrNfvbpy_Vm-l7PrDat5zduZrqshe-6ZLye2GNHApU8Es0YHjUudE/s1600/Boxycharm_September_2017-9.jpg" title="" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM-2m4-SpOuCVqdkloczhp9Ek9LUAcj7aOoEwOCetZcXKjaV2ExGqqFa3gByeAgcPCeQSt_APOrd4S1VLfvQ1yoiHvkC5JrtWWBNYAb4_dKOWLtuCdD8Uoi-62dh8t9bnCqQR1uk_Jb0U/s1600/Boxycharm_September_2017-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Middle row swatches Pur Minerals Soiree Diaries Palette from Boxycharm September 2017" border="0" data-original-height="1296" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM-2m4-SpOuCVqdkloczhp9Ek9LUAcj7aOoEwOCetZcXKjaV2ExGqqFa3gByeAgcPCeQSt_APOrd4S1VLfvQ1yoiHvkC5JrtWWBNYAb4_dKOWLtuCdD8Uoi-62dh8t9bnCqQR1uk_Jb0U/s1600/Boxycharm_September_2017-10.jpg" title="" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_vNAbch2YsrPe2StbICFNXQske-Zl4xY6nUu_jW3GYsSlDRYhMrhIJuJtEBwBzwIygQdAZpAYC12AZvyND89k7OKDzPzrzi2u9d9nm2m0rb4mV-KJHQboQDn9op4NJ4M0lcxgBjzAXM/s1600/Boxycharm_September_2017-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bottom row swatches Pur Minerals Soiree Diaries Palette from Boxycharm September 2017" border="0" data-original-height="1402" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_vNAbch2YsrPe2StbICFNXQske-Zl4xY6nUu_jW3GYsSlDRYhMrhIJuJtEBwBzwIygQdAZpAYC12AZvyND89k7OKDzPzrzi2u9d9nm2m0rb4mV-KJHQboQDn9op4NJ4M0lcxgBjzAXM/s1600/Boxycharm_September_2017-11.jpg" title="" /></a></div>
As I have mentioned before, <a href="https://boxycharm.com/refer/Abiga-BTAMZYRB" target="_blank">Boxycharm </a>is really stepping up its game and is well worth the $21 a month. If you're curious, check out the <a href="http://www.mysubscriptionaddiction.com/2017/08/boxycharm-subscription-box-review-august-2017.html" target="_blank">August Boxycharm</a> featuring Tarte and some of my favorite fluffy makeup brushes.abidinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16545929553778845667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395380783565201249.post-4169867694731180132017-09-17T10:28:00.000-07:002017-12-31T06:29:46.542-08:00Adventures in Quebec <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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abidinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16545929553778845667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395380783565201249.post-8034648577388942392017-08-27T09:08:00.001-07:002017-08-27T09:08:50.646-07:00 Budget Beauty Buy | 40 Coastal Scents Shadow Pots<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsH-BHJMmhLMajNwseb7SL0N6FXN3DF2xacPstbZp0OIlVsUF56q4T_nJPYzuvknwa6rgkoqUOtyBaaYmJeSIzqpO-EV76QbLcyfA4JlsCMY4bUiwXx9lv7sOigLvggnWmloSwnLIHB9U/s1600/Coastal_Scents_Hot_Pots-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="coastal scents shadow pots hot pots 2017 palette white silver bermuda sand ashen brownstone ice ballet antique lilac perfect plum ash grey brandeis blue tanzanite gypsy blue elven midnight " border="0" data-original-height="1489" data-original-width="1600" height="594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsH-BHJMmhLMajNwseb7SL0N6FXN3DF2xacPstbZp0OIlVsUF56q4T_nJPYzuvknwa6rgkoqUOtyBaaYmJeSIzqpO-EV76QbLcyfA4JlsCMY4bUiwXx9lv7sOigLvggnWmloSwnLIHB9U/s640/Coastal_Scents_Hot_Pots-5.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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I realized recently that I've turned into a snob when it comes to ... well, most things, but especially makeup and skincare. Even if there was an affordable dupe, I would tend toward the most expensive version simply because of how it would look on my vanity or the assumption that cheaper = lower quality, always. Since that realization I've been making deliberate efforts to try a wide variety of brands. </div>
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I'm never going to be the girl with a minimalist makeup collection - I like too many different finishes and colors and I love having the option to wear bizarre colors if I so choose. That said, I don't need to spend $50+ on an eyeshadow palette full of yellows & oranges if I only wear those shades a few times a year, ya feel me? I've done that way too often this year, so when <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/" target="_blank">Coastal Scents</a> was having a big sale over the 4th of July weekend, I decided to take advantage of some brights (and neutrals) in order to really give some budget shadows a chance. </div>
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<a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots" target="_blank">Coastal Scents Shadow Pots</a> are typically $1.95 a pop, but they often run half-off sales - I'd recommend waiting until one of these sales so you can load up on $0.99 shadows. Coastal Scents has over 350 shadow pots to choose from, so I tried to take my time and do my research. I chose these shades based on a variety of things: if they were recommended by name through makeup artists I trust, if they were highly reviewed on the Coastal Scents website, and if I could find swatches of them in a blog post. The latter factor is partially what's inspiring me to write this - I could find lots of blog posts with swatches, but not for <i>every </i>shade I wanted to try.</div>
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I put together a cool-toned palette and a warms & brights palette using <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-custom-palettes-empty-palettes" target="_blank">Coastal Scent's 12-pan and 28-pan shadow palettes</a> (which are $6 and $10, respectively). There is an option for a solid black palette, but I prefer clear tops, though they get smudged and dirty, so that I can easily see which shadows are where. The palettes are magnetized, too, so it's easy to pop pans in and out with minimal effort. </div>
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Click through for a look at swatches of all 40 shades! </div>
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I'll start with my smaller, 12-pan cool toned palette, though it clearly isn't perfectly cool. I do want to mention that I have <i>not </i>played with every shadow for actual eye looks yet, so they could end up performing better with primer or could end up having a lot of unexpected fallout, etc., but as far as swatching goes I was pretty impressed. </div>
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As usual, I have to mention my disappointment with brands using "gypsy" as a marketing tool when they probably meant "bohemian" in the first place ... which would've been alliterative and everything! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9XE6eAaiZr7epfwSAT1hzOzaHqjI7-ncHrIXSI9HHiA3K0XPZzY-T-Jh0o2CDgOB_CGdpcCYg5vEl6Hr8sSJOPWp7e6YKz6GsnPlwaKbRToNoh9CYbnlJxI8UHciM8O_Orz_jkRkHeY/s1600/Coastal_Scents_Hot_Pots-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="coastal scents shadow pots hot pots 2017 white silver bermuda sand ashen brownstone ice ballet antique lilac perfect plum ash grey brandeis blue tanzanite gypsy blue elven midnight swatches swatch swatched " border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9XE6eAaiZr7epfwSAT1hzOzaHqjI7-ncHrIXSI9HHiA3K0XPZzY-T-Jh0o2CDgOB_CGdpcCYg5vEl6Hr8sSJOPWp7e6YKz6GsnPlwaKbRToNoh9CYbnlJxI8UHciM8O_Orz_jkRkHeY/s640/Coastal_Scents_Hot_Pots-4.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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Finger swatches on bare skin (a.k.a. no primer)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPgGKogsJIT5LM9oeKjUIaKM2CYFtfWLZ2G53o9uRQjUU7FwEZv2pauw52va_puKU0fyA7_lFmorxfAn0DZWV227Xqq5BTisosIBJeBa5LjkHS9LuGw8czuEOnuYhsczlDGriie6Qjps/s1600/Coastal_Scents_Hot_Pots-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="coastal scents shadow pots hot pots 2017 white silver bermuda sand ashen brownstone ice ballet antique lilac swatches swatch swatched" border="0" data-original-height="1531" data-original-width="1600" height="612" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPgGKogsJIT5LM9oeKjUIaKM2CYFtfWLZ2G53o9uRQjUU7FwEZv2pauw52va_puKU0fyA7_lFmorxfAn0DZWV227Xqq5BTisosIBJeBa5LjkHS9LuGw8czuEOnuYhsczlDGriie6Qjps/s640/Coastal_Scents_Hot_Pots-2.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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+ <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-white-silver" target="_blank">White Silver</a> | Described as "a shimmering white hue with silver sparks" with sheer application and a shimmer finish. Though it is too shimmery for a browbone shade, I have really loved it so far as an inner corner highlight. </div>
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+ <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-bermuda-sand" target="_blank">Bermuda Sand</a> | Described as "a smooth, brown-taupe hue with a satin finish" with semi-opaque application and a satin finish. I've tried using it as a base eyeshadow, but it's a little too dark and pigmented for that. Bermuda Sand is probably my favorite of the mattes (thus far) and I think it'll be a great crease shade.</div>
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+ <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-ashen" target="_blank">Ashen </a>| Described as "a light greyish-taupe hue with a satiny finish" with semi-opaque application and a satin finish. Semi-opaque or even sheer is definitely right, but I still think it's pretty and works as a nice, sheer wash of color on more no-makeup days. It blended easily and could be built up through finger application vs. the fluffy brush I used to apply it all over. </div>
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+ <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-brownstone" target="_blank">Brownstone </a>| Described as "a matte shade with a medium brown hue" with opaque application and a matte finish. This is ... my least favorite shadow, I believe. I haven't used it in a look yet, but I'm unimpressed by the patchiness of the swatch. </div>
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+<a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-ice-ballet" target="_blank"> Ice Ballet</a> | Described as "a frosty, pastel purple with a shimmer finish" with semi-opaque application and a shimmer finish. Though the website describes it as such, I was still expecting a white/silver eyeshadow with more of a lavender duochrome flip. Imagine my surprise at receiving a true lavender shimmer! It was soft and pigmented during swatching. </div>
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+ <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-antique-lilac" target="_blank">Antique Lilac</a> | Described as "a classic twist to pale violet with an opaque, matte finish" with ... obviously ... opaque application and a matte finish. This shade is really pretty, but I had to work to build up that swatch. If they had described the application as sheer or maybe even semi-opaque, I wouldn't be disappointed, but opaque? That's a real stretch. I'm going to keep working with it, since I don't have anything like it in my collection, but just know going into this shade that it's much more sheer than advertised. </div>
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+ <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-perfect-plum" target="_blank">Perfect Plum</a> | Described as a "satiny, purple shade" with opaque application and a satin finish. Purples seem to be a challenge for most companies, from low end to high end, so I'm happy with the opacity of this one. It applied better with a wet brush (I use <a href="http://www.ulta.com/prep-prime-fix?productId=xlsImpprod15921204" target="_blank">Mac Fix+ spray</a> to wet my brushes) and was very pretty, but a little too easy to sheer out. </div>
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+ <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-ash-grey" target="_blank">Ash Grey</a> | Described as a "neutral, monochrome hue with an opaque, matte finish". I'll let you guess the intended application and finish. I like how this swatches, but haven't had a chance to give it a fair try yet. I forgot to add a crease shade last night so I tried to layer this into the crease over Perfect Plum and ended up making a bit of a muddy mess. Swatch-wise, though, I feel that this is one of the better mattes. </div>
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+ <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-brandeis-blue" target="_blank">Brandeis Blue</a> | Described as "a cobalt blue shade with a dazzling purple iridescence" with a shimmer finish and opaque application. I'm really happy with how brilliant this shade is! It's another that's better when I pat it on with my fingers, as the brush can blend out a bit of the pigment. I didn't notice any purple iridescence in the pan or on my eye, but that's fine with me as I like this cerulean blue shade as-is. </div>
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+ <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-tanzanite" target="_blank">Tanzanite </a>| Described as a "velvety, deep blue shade" with a satin finish and opaque application. This is another shade that I expected to be different than it is, though who knows why - it's a navy satin. Though it's described as "velvety, deep blue" (which, I mean, navy is) I was expecting something a little more special. I found this shadow to be a little difficult to work with - workable, but not worth the effort for me when I have better navy shadows in my collection. </div>
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+ <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-gypsy-blue" target="_blank">Gypsy Blue</a> | Described as "a beautiful haze of light blue with subtle undertones of grey and gold" with satin finish and opaque application. This was really pretty as a inner corner highlight in combination with Brandeis Blue on the lid and Tanzanite on the outer corner. It's very similar to Niagara & I don't know what anyone would need both - of the two, I prefer Niagara. </div>
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+ <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-elven-midnight" target="_blank">Elven Midnight</a> | Described as a "gleaming gunmetal hue" with a shimmer finish and opaque application. So far I really like this shadow! It's darker than I'd normally choose, but the silvery shimmer finish keeps it interesting. It also leans a little purple, which I like. </div>
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And now for my warm/bright palette! After swatching I've realized there are a few shadows I'd like to switch around (for example, Ashen might be better in this palette and Mai Tai might be better in the cool palette, while I could switch Niagara and Gypsy Blue around without ever knowing the difference). </div>
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+ <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-caramel-ice" target="_blank">Caramel Ice</a> | Described as "a frosted, pale caramel hue with a shimmer finish" and semi-opaque application. So far, it's been a nice brow highlight & inner corner shade. I think it's interesting to see what Coastal Scents considers to be opaque & semi-opaque, though, as I feel that Caramel Ice is a highly pigmented, nice shimmer shadow. </div>
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+ <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-aluminum-taupe" target="_blank">Aluminum Taupe</a> | Described as "a dark metallic silver hue with a shimmery finish" and semi-opaque application. This is a gorgeous shade, though I certainly wouldn't describe it as "dark metallic", or silver, or, again, as semi-opaque. It's pale enough to be a pretty inner corner shade and, to my eye, seems to function as a shimmery Bermuda Sand. </div>
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+ <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-niagara" target="_blank">Niagara </a>| Described as "a wash of bluish-green with a shimmery finish" and opaque application. To me, Niagara functions the way I expected Gypsy blue to, and it comes across as a pale blue-gold duochrome. Right now I'm wearing it on my inner corner and under my eye as a liner, and I'm really loving it in combination with 18 Karat Gold on my lid and Kodiak on my outer corner - the combo pulls out the greeny-gold of Niagara while still adding the brightness of a pastel blue. </div>
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+ <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-victorian-pear" target="_blank">Victorian Pear</a> | Described as "a creamy off-white hue with a slight green tint" and a satin finish with sheer application. It is sheer and pretty, more of a dusty rose than an "off-white". In the pan I could see light green sparkles, but they didn't translate in the swatch or on the eye. I'm not sure how to use it yet, but I think it's pretty and I want to incorporate it. </div>
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+<a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-mai-tai" target="_blank"> Mai Tai</a> | Described as "an indulging mauve hue with a silver shimmer" (lol... indulging...) with a shimmer finish and semi-opaque application. I love this shadow so much more than I thought I would when I placed the order. It's almost a silvery dusty pastel purple and I don't have anything else like it. I'm in love. </div>
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+ <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-mauve-frost" target="_blank">Mauve Frost</a> | Described as "an icy pink hue with an ultra shimmer finish" and opaque application. Icy pink is right, much more so than "mauve". This looks bright in the swatch, and it can be, but it also works in the inner corner as a highlight if you use a light hand. I'm really liking it. </div>
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+<a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-canyon-coral" target="_blank"> Canyon Coral</a> | Described as "a deep bronze-coral hue" with a satin finish and semi-opaque application. Pretty, pigmented, and on-trend, but another shimmer that's more opaque than semi-opaque. </div>
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+ <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-antique-maroon" target="_blank">Antique Maroon</a> | Described as "a rustic, brownish-red hue with a satiny finish" and opaque application. I haven't tried it yet but it looks super wearable. </div>
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+ <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-oatmeal-tan" target="_blank">Oatmeal Tan</a> | Described as "a light tan hue with a matte finish" and semi-opaque application. Oatmeal Tan & Oktoberfest were the most widely recommended shades from Coastal Scent's entire line of shadow pots. Initially ... I was disappointed. It took some effort to build up and the swatch wasn't great. However, when using it on my eye, I actually loved it. It was easy to build up and blend out and wasn't patchy. A great neutral shade.</div>
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+ <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-oktoberfest" target="_blank">Oktoberfest </a>| Described as a "burnished" (you keep using that word... I do not think it means what you think it means) "orange-brown hue with a matte finish" and opaque application. My opinion on this is the same as for Oatmeal Tan! </div>
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+ <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-burnished-wine" target="_blank">Burnished Wine</a> | Described as "a rich, burgundy-brown hue with a shimmer finish" and semi-opaque application.This is <i>super </i>shimmery with almost a foil finish, particularly when applied with Mac Fix + spray. </div>
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+ <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-earth-rose" target="_blank">Earth Rose</a> | Described as "a dusty red hue with a satin finish" and semi-opaque application. LOVE this shade way more than anticipated. I haven't worn it yet but I wonder if it could be a crease shade, even with the satin finish. </div>
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+ <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-paprika" target="_blank">Paprika </a>| Described as "a rich, orange-red hue with a smooth, matte finish" and semi-opaque application. This was another highly recommended shade that disappointed me during swatching, but again I have actually really liked it in the crease for pink-toned eye looks. </div>
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+ <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-tyrian-purple" target="_blank">Tyrian Purple</a> | Described as "a deep, reddish purple hue with a silver shimmer finish" and semi-opaque application. This one is more subdued than I expected - I thought it would be the brightest of any of the purple shades, but I like it. Haven't tried it on the eye yet so we'll have to see how it works. </div>
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<complete id="goog_1837329743">+ <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-balsam" target="_blank">Balsam </a>| Described as "a deep, golden-green hue with a shimmery finish" and opaque application. I wouldn't say this is a deep golden green, but rather a true green shimmer. I wore it with Atomic Apricot and really loved the tropical combo. </complete><br />
<complete>+<a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-amazonian-ice" target="_blank"> Amazonian Ice</a> | Described as "a bright green hue with ultra shimmer finish" and opaque application. I was genuinely shocked by how incredibly pigmented this shadow is! Since it's so pastel I expected it to sheer out to a sheer green glitter, but it's creamy and incredible. </complete><br />
<complete>+ <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-18-karat-gold" target="_blank">18 Karat Gold</a> | Described as "a glistening gold hue" with shimmer finish and semi-opaque application. Another super pigmented shade I tried today in combination with Niagara in my inner corner and Kodiak on the outer corner.</complete><br />
<complete>+ <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-atomic-apricot" target="_blank">Atomic Apricot </a>| Described as "an explosion of peachy-orange" with shimmer finish and opaque application. I didn't expect to like this pale orange shade as much as I do, but I think it's really pretty and fun. </complete><br />
<complete>+<a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-copper-pot" target="_blank"> Copper Pot</a> | Described as a "luxurious, shimmering gold" with opaque application. Another universally highly-rated shade. Mine came with a little bit broken out of the corner, and that bit breaks a little more and more every time it's used, but it hasn't caused too much of a problem. Just know that this shadow is especially soft and fragile. </complete><br />
<complete>+<a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-panama-rose" target="_blank"> Panama Rose</a> | Described as "a shimmering, violet hue with a pink under glow" with a shimmer finish and semi-opaque application. I've tried this shade (honestly, thinking it was Tyrian Purple, whoops) and I thought it was <i>beautiful</i> on the lid with Mauve Frost as the inner highlight and Raisin Berry on the outer corner. It lasted all day with no creasing or fading! I use a primer, but this is still a good quality shadow compared to any of my high-end shadows. </complete><br />
<complete>+ <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-amethyst" target="_blank">Amethyst </a>| Described as a "gemstone purple hue" with shimmer finish and opaque application. I expected a royal purple shimmer when I ordered this color, so I'm a little disappointed with how warm and fuchsia it looks. However, the pigmentation is great. Just not what I'd hoped it would be! </complete></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxRZoTsh9hE_V53pkp6cBItd5y_JbYp7VC1qh5I-CHyVUsEJAKHeemP-wpLUTtZY0ou_fvyyv6AOp4oJsrijN3uUdhmk0WYilnCfDzrCKkLSd3khmnOntQItIvOj69YeeaNRlMK4lMzvM/s1600/Coastal_Scents_Hot_Pots-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="coastal scents shadow pots hot pots 2017 palette swatch swatches swatched cherry moss amaretto raisin berry cherry chocolate kodiak dark golden olive timeless taupe" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1304" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxRZoTsh9hE_V53pkp6cBItd5y_JbYp7VC1qh5I-CHyVUsEJAKHeemP-wpLUTtZY0ou_fvyyv6AOp4oJsrijN3uUdhmk0WYilnCfDzrCKkLSd3khmnOntQItIvOj69YeeaNRlMK4lMzvM/s640/Coastal_Scents_Hot_Pots-13.jpg" title="" width="520" /></a></div>
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+ <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-cherry-moss" target="_blank">Cherry Moss</a> | Described as "a reddish-brown hue with green iridescent shimmer" with opaque application. I wouldn't describe it as opaque, as it swatches rather sheer, but it is a unique shade in my collection that has an almost-duochrome flip from peachy to green-gold, depending on how the light hits it. Definitely worth playing with! </div>
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+ <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-amaretto" target="_blank">Amaretto</a> | Described as "a luxurious reddish-brown hue with a shimmer finish" and opaque application. Amaretto is a super pretty shadow. In person, it almost looks like a dusty rose shimmer (maybe a little more brown than that). It feels buttery to the touch and I'm a fan. </div>
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+ <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-raisin-berry" target="_blank">Raisin Berry</a> | Described as "a stunning maroon" with shimmer finish and opaque application. So far I've used Raisin Berry as an outer corner/bottom lid liner shade on a pinky-purpley eye look, and I really like it. Pigmented and blendable. </div>
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+ <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-cherry-chocolate" target="_blank">Cherry Chocolate</a> | Described as "a rich reddish-brown hue" with a shimmer finish and opaque application. Meh. I'm not super impressed with Cherry Chocolate - it feels more stiff & dry in the pan than the other shimmer-finish shadows, and swatches patchily because of it. It seems to be a matte dark brown shadow with pink shimmer sparkles, creating the "cherry chocolate" effect. </div>
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+ <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-kodiak" target="_blank">Kodiak </a>| Described as "a shimmering golden brown hue" with opaque application. Kodiak looks olive in this image, but in real life I think it's a much more functional, creamy deep brown shade than Cherry Chocolate, but with golden shimmer rather than pink. </div>
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+ <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-dark-golden-olive" target="_blank">Dark Golden Olive</a> | Described as "a shimmering deep green hue with iridescent gold sparks" and opaque application. It is exactly as described - buttery, pigmented, and true olive green with golden shimmer. </div>
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+ <a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/collections/makeup-eyes-shadow-pots/products/hot-pot-timeless-taupe" target="_blank">Timeless Taupe</a> | Described as "an antique brownish-grey hue with a matte finish" and semi-opaque application. Mattes seem to be Coastal Scents weaker shadows, in my opinion. but Timeless Taupe isn't too bad. Describing it as semi-opaque is fair, and it can be built up to opaque with little effort. It's a nice matte crease shades to round out all of the shimmer shadows! </div>
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Since I started writing this post (it's taken me <i>weeks </i>to finish up - my lack of motivation is truly astounding) Coastal Scents has already had another half-off shadow pot sale, so I'd definitely keep an eye out! At $0.99 per shadow, these are absolutely worth it. Some shades are obviously stronger than others, but the fact that some of them perform just as well as my Anastasia, Marc Jacobs, or Kat Von D shadows goes to show the extreme mark-up on makeup products. If you're looking to try out funky new colors that you aren't sure you'll incorporate into a normal makeup routine, I'd say Coastal Scents is the way to go rather than dishing out ~$50 on something like<a href="https://www.urbandecay.com/electric-pressed-pigment-palette-urban-decay/421.html" target="_blank"> Urban Decay Electric </a>or colorful <a href="https://www.katvondbeauty.com/eye/eyeshadow/metal-crush-eyeshadow/10010.html?dwvar_10010_color=1046" target="_blank">Kat Von D singles</a>. I'm a fan! </div>
abidinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16545929553778845667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395380783565201249.post-52522242304205965812017-07-22T07:41:00.001-07:002017-07-22T07:41:09.109-07:00Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLWTK_P4OfRjwiPzVgRQoi_4K-ZelPkX2LVMn6fYEICnvEeI_r3hrYzXxqjwYLaJPIDSHkvRlfTBprE6u7ko0G8xBdxJLxhSuIWDwL35MD6V2KRsR3ZzpIH9Jqp3huI4n1NCTo4shcWU/s1600/040478a78abc3786c9f1280dfeac292a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="497" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLWTK_P4OfRjwiPzVgRQoi_4K-ZelPkX2LVMn6fYEICnvEeI_r3hrYzXxqjwYLaJPIDSHkvRlfTBprE6u7ko0G8xBdxJLxhSuIWDwL35MD6V2KRsR3ZzpIH9Jqp3huI4n1NCTo4shcWU/s400/040478a78abc3786c9f1280dfeac292a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I didn't imagine, at the end of May, that the Ipsy post would be my last blog post for two months. I was committed and had all kinds of ideas and my one year blog-iversary was coming up! But life snuck up on me, as it so often does. This Summer has been a whirlwind. There has been a <i>lot </i>of change in my life, both good and bad. In lieu of a June and July monthly post, here's a brief rundown of what's happened over the past couple months.<br />
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+ I lost my Poppa to lymphoma & dementia at the beginning of July. He was ready to go, but being forced to come to terms with losing far & away the most important man in my childhood is shitty. <br />
+ I finished school, though not as well as I would've liked. Unfortunately since that last class, I haven't kept up with my newly acquired knowledge at all. It's like my brain was fried.<br />
+ I regained my weekends & have been able to spend more time with my family.<br />
+ I moved! A month & a half earlier than planned, too. I'm in a beautiful house with a fenced in backyard & Sansa gained a brother, Mowgli. I'll try to post pictures of the dweebuses, but they're wrestling 24/7 so quality photos are a challenge.<br />
+ I'm still getting my anxiety meds figured out. I love almost everything about my current prescription, but it exhausts me like Benadryl or Dramamine. I can barely make it through the work day before having to come home & nap.<br />
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So, it's been an intense couple of months but I want to get back to regularly scheduled programming ASAP.abidinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16545929553778845667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395380783565201249.post-80660410010142250262017-05-30T10:56:00.000-07:002017-10-23T10:34:29.265-07:00May 2017 Ipsy Glambag Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;">At long last (well, a little over a year, to be more precise), I think my love affair with Ipsy is coming to an end. Nothing has changed about the service and I still think it can be a fun way to treat yourself every month, but my makeup collection is expansive. I have reached the point where it is rare for me to receive something I don't already own in a similar shade and finish. This month even contained two items I very specifically wanted and was very specifically excited to try, but ... not because I </span><i style="text-align: left;">need </i><span style="text-align: left;"> it. I was just curious about the formula! While for many people that is the point of beauty subscriptions, I have a humongous backlog of samples that I am </span><i style="text-align: left;">never going to use up</i><span style="text-align: left;">. I will definitely still be receiving a June bag, but I am actually considering cancelling for July ... at least for a little while! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EGhj19n8PEiorf4IugBOv4lIjh7nSxzCcDUKgBA4JOga5vSmBACoUo3ihr60eOZwpyRfSgCtJTEYbFWgcXokr2UDOI0-7s0DnJ-rgBi-8YVMyr9E2qMmF8RCVekbKTQpIT9C4m2wssI/s1600/may_ipsy_review.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EGhj19n8PEiorf4IugBOv4lIjh7nSxzCcDUKgBA4JOga5vSmBACoUo3ihr60eOZwpyRfSgCtJTEYbFWgcXokr2UDOI0-7s0DnJ-rgBi-8YVMyr9E2qMmF8RCVekbKTQpIT9C4m2wssI/s1600/may_ipsy_review.JPG" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.ulta.com/afterglow-8-hour-powder-highlighter?productId=xlsImpprod13971131" target="_blank">Urban Decay Afterglow Powder Highlighter in "Sin"</a> | RV $9.57. This was one of the products I was most excited to try this month, but also a product that made me realize how little I actually need to continue trying your typical champagne highlight. In the photo below, it's the third swatch from the top - it's shimmery and pigmented and really lovely, but it's simply not a product I need now or anytime soon. The sample alone would likely take me a year to finish.</div>
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<a href="http://www.ulta.com/superhero-elastic-stretch-volumizing-mascara?productId=xlsImpprod13631067" target="_blank">It Cosmetics Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara</a> | RV $$13.60. This was the second product I was excited to try! The It Cosmetics Superhero Mascara gets consistently great reviews and I look forward to sampling it, but yet again ... when will that be? I'm currently working through a mascara stash and have ten I'd like to use up before starting on this one. </div>
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<a href="http://jellypongpong.com/home/59-supercharged-super-intense-eyeshadow-duo.html#/color-electric" target="_blank">JellyPongPong Supercharged Super Intense Eyeshadow Duo in "Electric"</a> | RV $22.95, Full-size. I have been on an overwhelmingly huge eyeshadow kick lately, so I was glad to be receiving this duo. In the photo below, the shades are the top two swatches on bare skin. They don't look too impressive, but I'll be trying them over primer before writing them off. The compact they came in is charming, but I do think $22.95 is quite an inflated price. If I'd been able to choose, I would have picked the teal and bronze variation of this duo for a little more contrast. </div>
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<a href="https://www.cailyncosmetics.com/pure-lust-extreme-matte-tint-velvet" target="_blank">Cailyn Cosmetics Pure Lust Extreme Matte Tint + Velvet in "Practicable"</a> | RV $19, Full-size. You may recall my previous experience with a Cailyn Cosmetics Extreme Matte Tint, as conveyed in my <a href="http://callme-dina.blogspot.com/2017/04/lip-hoarder-part-3.html" target="_blank">Lip Hoarder Part Three</a> post which was basically that it's a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad matte lipstick. "Practicable" was better. Described as a "cinnamon nude", the shade was much more flattering and the application was a breeze. As you're applying, it feels like it's going to be a perfect matte lip paint ... but then it dries, and it isn't. Though better than my first experience, Cailyn's Matte Lip Tints still dry your lips out so badly they pucker, which is universally unflattering. It's also impossible to remove - I tried my face wash, a lip scrub, a cleansing oil, and a scrubbing brush, and my lips are <i>still </i>tinted. Shade - beautiful. Product - stay far away. </div>
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<a href="https://adesseny.com/en/central-park-collection/151-luminous-water.html" target="_blank">Adesse New York Gel Polish in "Surfer Girl"</a> | RV $18, Full-size. I love nail polish (obviously, I have a Julep subscription) and I like this shade and the fact that it's a gel-like finish. My <i>only</i> qualm with receiving this polish is that<a href="http://callme-dina.blogspot.com/2017/04/april-ipsy-glambag-review.html" target="_blank"> just last month</a> I received a nail polish in almost the exact same shade from Ipsy. It's not a big deal and I prefer the Adesse polish to the Defy & Inspire polish, but I'd prefer to diversify my collection. </div>
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<i>Total Paid: $10</i></div>
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<i><b>Total Retail Value: $83.12</b></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dq7aYiWtPcZfU5PxL7azsH297Gy_u80h9_-__YuwR7Nizd24c-Yk12D0lgAqkayaCl6aeY98zD7ivf48E_iAD1mvOQFpYwdr5kVPAS9dm3LFBYLWHaLVTDxb8GpVy06ACjoh6IyN0qI/s1600/may_ipsy_swatches.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dq7aYiWtPcZfU5PxL7azsH297Gy_u80h9_-__YuwR7Nizd24c-Yk12D0lgAqkayaCl6aeY98zD7ivf48E_iAD1mvOQFpYwdr5kVPAS9dm3LFBYLWHaLVTDxb8GpVy06ACjoh6IyN0qI/s1600/may_ipsy_swatches.JPG" /></a></div>
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That value is wild for a $10 subscription bag, but again, I think some of the values were inflated, particularly on the JellyPongPong shadow duo. I also think $18 is an awful lot to spend on a single polish, but it's not unheard of - the gorgeous<a href="http://www.smithandcult.com/color.html" target="_blank"> Smith & Cult polishes</a> are also $18 a pop. Regardless, this bag was well worth $10, but it's just not meeting a need anymore. I'm at a point where I would rather spend more to have exactly what I want than $10 to have a variety of new items to try. I'm sure it's a pendulum, but for now I plan to pause my Ipsy subscription. </div>
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To try Ipsy yourself, <a href="https://www.ipsy.com/new?cid=ppage_ref&sid=link&refer=y11id" target="_blank">sign up here</a> for a monthly beauty bag! </div>
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abidinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16545929553778845667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395380783565201249.post-61698090744057091182017-05-27T15:14:00.000-07:002017-06-02T11:27:48.118-07:00Saturday Reading List<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BCwBAb1PgLU/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWP3Strl4LJ-gjDglE8dr21OPtQ-uLS6t3p-NSV4mCR_Y3pFhqvHoeTXNaRd8o1WYUM_RljtLx1bwRYFSL6mrHEjl3xPBJpY8tJ2Od3Yf8gtwTZfYutBvSN244sm2xdnUDMx7LLlUYngY/s1600/motivational_quote_hand_lettering.jpg" /></a></div>
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This article on the <a href="http://www.refinery29.com/2017/04/149768/retouching-fashion-industry-history-opinion-essay" target="_blank">positive trends in retouching images</a>. "Instead of reshaping, shellacking, and airbrushing women to look more like model versions of one another (thin, tan, young, and tall with shiny hair and clear skin), the retouching trend today is more focused on making sure you see individual quirks, without distraction."</div>
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This blog post from my school has been helpful to me lately (though not a complete cure) as a reminder that <a href="http://nashvillesoftwareschool.com/blog/2017/04/17/living-with-imposter-syndrome" target="_blank">we all feel inadequately prepared to tackle jobs from time to time</a> - or often, or always! </div>
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This opinion piece from early May <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/sally-yates-and-condoleezza-rice-are-do-right-women-in-a-do-wrong-world/2017/05/09/07d75c96-34f7-11e7-b4ee-434b6d506b37_story.html?utm_term=.48a70dd78b53" target="_blank">highlighting the leadership qualities exhibited by Sally Yates & Condoleezza Rice</a>, which seem to be missing in most of our current administration. </div>
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This homage to my <a href="http://bryntaylorstyle.com/2015/01/30/six-things-ive-learned-from-stella-gibsons-style/" target="_blank">professional woman fashion muse</a>, Stella Gibson (played by Gillian Anderson in The Fall).</div>
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This essay from The H-Spot: The Feminist Pursuit of Happiness, which <a href="http://www.cosmopolitan.com/career/a9586508/jill-filipovic-h-spot-children-motherhood-ambivalent/" target="_blank">discusses ambivalence toward having children in our modern world</a>. So ... me. </div>
<br />abidinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16545929553778845667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395380783565201249.post-57077136209235543962017-05-22T07:10:00.000-07:002017-06-05T16:34:48.172-07:00Lip Hoarder Part 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2CUycONY-wJdE59A-EvBwoT47mbRFERRmtW1VByRAImGqq_pGcUYwEK7XBSq_WVZ7zInO02ULPD6NbufNVpW3IEqdZkZk1paXjMDdIiRIrE-LD82tTcGyhb8HVNeM4bK8iAPwZDLI4YE/s1600/lip_hoarder_4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lip Hoarder Part Four with Nyx RealHer Too Faced Stila Burt's Bees bareMinerals NARS Urban Decay and Colourpop" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2CUycONY-wJdE59A-EvBwoT47mbRFERRmtW1VByRAImGqq_pGcUYwEK7XBSq_WVZ7zInO02ULPD6NbufNVpW3IEqdZkZk1paXjMDdIiRIrE-LD82tTcGyhb8HVNeM4bK8iAPwZDLI4YE/s640/lip_hoarder_4.JPG" title="" width="360" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://callme-dina.blogspot.com/2017/02/lip-hoarder.html" target="_blank">Part One</a> | <a href="http://callme-dina.blogspot.com/2017/03/lip-hoarder-part-2.html" target="_blank">Part Two</a> | <a href="http://callme-dina.blogspot.com/2017/04/lip-hoarder-part-3.html" target="_blank">Part Three</a></div>
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It has been so exceptionally difficult to motivate myself to do a damn thing that isn't work lately, including keeping up with posts I'd like to share (obviously). My Lip Hoarder challenge has been going relatively well, though May has been a month full of being too lazy or busy to apply any makeup whatsoever, so progress is happening slowly. I have whittled my way down (after this point) to a myriad of shades that are a little vampy or out-there, so wearing new shades has started to become a challenge in and of itself. However, I don't want to give up yet, and it's interesting to see which shades I miss the most - like a weird orangey-coral from Nyx that I would <i>never </i>expect to be the lipstick I long to wear. You'll notice in round four that I tended toward Spring-y shades with a dash of alternative colors thrown in intermittently. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOH3zw4fTvnHbFJKR5NICSr-P9k6c8kRsdiwxCNak_JV9cVrmcLU_uo3pT7PVaU91lhEsSl24hlViP2FEs3EAsMRYwLvCUl5ZAEUkwn7yq8VxkikrHL1XV3CMvPBrcXqsS1o5d1e-e2M/s1600/lip_hoarder_swatches_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lipstick Swatches Stila Burt's Bees Nyx Kat Von D Colourpop RealHer Urban Decay" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOH3zw4fTvnHbFJKR5NICSr-P9k6c8kRsdiwxCNak_JV9cVrmcLU_uo3pT7PVaU91lhEsSl24hlViP2FEs3EAsMRYwLvCUl5ZAEUkwn7yq8VxkikrHL1XV3CMvPBrcXqsS1o5d1e-e2M/s640/lip_hoarder_swatches_2.png" title="" width="480" /></a></div>
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1. <a href="http://www.sephora.com/stay-all-day-liquid-lipstick-P374936?skuId=1440205" target="_blank">Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in "Patina"</a> - I like the Stila Stay All Day formula, but I think this is too close to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/NYX-Liquid-Suede-Soft-Spoken/dp/B013GOZB78" target="_blank">Nyx's "Soft Spoken"</a> for me to need it in my collection, and I actually prefer the Nyx formula. </div>
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2. <a href="http://www.ulta.com/lipstick?productId=xlsImpprod13251275" target="_blank">Burt's Bees Lipstick in "Blush Basin"</a> - While this isn't a particularly flattering shade on me (and I have already destashed it because of that), I am impressed with the cute honeycomb packaging and the moisturizing formula of the Burt's Bees lipstick. I'd try it again in a cooler nude or dusty pink shade. </div>
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3. <a href="http://www.ulta.com/liquid-suede-cream-lipstick?productId=xlsImpprod12911001#" target="_blank">Nyx Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick in "Stone Fox"</a> - This project has made me realize that super duper dark, vampy shades are just not too pretty on my fair skin, but I do think this is a good product. I much prefer "Stone Fox" to number 13 on this list, "Oh Put it On". It's a rich charcoal gray that dries matte and doesn't pull away from your inner lip line. </div>
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4. <a href="http://www.sephora.com/studded-kiss-lipstick-P387435?skuId=1621689" target="_blank">Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick in "Lovecraft"</a> - I like "Lovecraft" and want to try more KVD Studded Kiss lipsticks after trying this one, but it's a little too close in shade to number 7 on this list, UD "Backtalk", and I'm afraid I prefer "Backtalk", so I'll be passing this little guy along. </div>
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5, <a href="http://www.temptalia.com/product/colour-pop-ultra-glossy-lip/kink/" target="_blank">Colourpop Ultra Glossy Lip in "Kink"</a> - For a long time, I was anti lip gloss. It gave me too many high school flashbacks. Lately, however, I've been particularly enjoying the highly-pigmented Colourpop Ultra Glossy Lips, and "Kink" is no different. It's a cool-toned fuchsia with sparkle and I hate that it was limited edition, as it's one of my more fun shades to wear. Not that I'll ever use up an entire lip product in this lifetime, but I'd like for others to have the opportunity to try it! </div>
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6. <a href="https://www.realher.com/products/lip-gloss" target="_blank">RealHer Plumping Gloss in "I Am A Rockstar"</a> - Though I absolutely hate number 11 on this list, RealHer's "I Am Gorgeous", I <i>do </i>like this lip gloss as a solid neutral gloss. It's nonsticky, but I want to do an immediate side by side of this with Trust Fund Beauty's lip gloss to see which basic neutral gloss is more worth keeping. </div>
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7. <a href="http://www.sephora.com/vice-lipstick-P409523?skuId=1827633" target="_blank">Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in "Backtalk"</a> - Backtalk is the first lipstick I've ever bought for myself that cost over $10! I've been gifted others or received them in subscription boxes, but Backtalk was my first experience with trying a sample of something and immediately rushing to Sephora to hand over $17 for the full-sized lipstick. It's my favorite pinky nude that I own, and looks even more flattering now that I've dyed my hair dark. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSPa163NhTMoIFj3IA6y4IhyphenhyphensG-lYjCW6fD6zjZLFD5bHZTfqtvS55BLrJp1v6P680ScKVx-rDjis4WzwjyVewxuZn6_KsOpHD1g8X9n6ixKJe_zhexqNvQ7NGzKEgCUPrau3u_gOpMM/s1600/lip_hoarder_swatches.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lipstick Swatches with Nyx Nars bareMinerals RealHer Trust Fund Beauty Nyx and Too Faced" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSPa163NhTMoIFj3IA6y4IhyphenhyphensG-lYjCW6fD6zjZLFD5bHZTfqtvS55BLrJp1v6P680ScKVx-rDjis4WzwjyVewxuZn6_KsOpHD1g8X9n6ixKJe_zhexqNvQ7NGzKEgCUPrau3u_gOpMM/s640/lip_hoarder_swatches.png" title="" width="480" /></a></div>
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8. <a href="http://www.nyxcosmetics.com/liquid-suede-cream-lipstick-set-5/NYX_383.html" target="_blank">Nyx Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick in "Industrial Paradise"</a> - I've noticed that pastels are really, really difficult for most companies to pull off, so I was surprised by how well baby blue "Industrial Paradise" worked. It applied smoothly and was completely opaque, though it did wear off since I wore it to grab tacos and margaritas with a friend. It's not a color I'll be able to wear often, but I'm pleased with it.<br />
9. <a href="https://www.overstock.com/Health-Beauty/NARS-Larger-Than-Life-Gold-Digger-Lip-Gloss/11816480/product.html" target="_blank">NARS Larger Than Life Lip Gloss in "Gold Digger"</a> - I feel totally neutral about this. I guess for the price of a full sized tube, I'm disappointed. It adds a sheen, I guess, but it's not enough to wear alone and I'm just not impressed like I am with the Colourpop glosses.<br />
10. <a href="http://www.ulta.com/pop-of-passion-lip-oil-balm?productId=xlsImpprod12091185&sku=2286316" target="_blank">bareMinerals Pop of Passion Lip Oil Balm in "Pink Passion"</a> - I've written before that I'm fond of the bareMinerals Pop of Passion balms, and this one is no exception. I like the bright pink shade. I think they'd be a good replacement for something like the Glossier Generation G Sheer Lipsticks. They aren't matte, but they have decent color payoff for a sheer <i>and </i>they are made to be moisturizing/soothing to your lips!<br />
11. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DMVZHB0/" target="_blank">RealHer Matte Liquid Lipstick in "I Am Gorgeous"</a> - I have no idea what the wear on this product is like because I ripped it off my lips within 30 seconds of applying. First, it's too pale and gives me early 00's Tara Reid fashion vibes. Secondly, it's thin but way too easy to apply way too much. It's one of those few products that I will probably just throw away because I wouldn't want to curse anyone else with it.<br />
12. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DMVZHB0/" target="_blank">Trust Fund Beauty Lipstick in "Try to be Nice"</a> - I am really fond of this lipstick. I like Trust Fund Beauty as a brand - their products aren't incredible, but they're nice and different and I like supporting smaller companies, especially when they're cruelty-free. I love that this lipstick is a creamy lilac shade but that it wears down to a soft pink. The wear makes it easy to pull off in more conservative situations while still wearing a slightly alternative color. It seems that this shade has been discontinued, which I hate, so I plan to keep and enjoy this tube while it lasts.<br />
13. <a href="http://www.nyxcosmetics.com/liquid-suede-lippie-duo-oh-put-it-on/NYX_494.html" target="_blank">Nyx Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick in "Oh, Put It On"</a> - Hate, hate, hate, loathe entirely. I am a huge advocate for the Nyx Liquid Suede Lipsticks and think, in general, they're the best bang for your buck when it comes to matte liquid lip products. This deep, blackened violet is a complete bust, though. It's impossible to apply - even the matching lip liner was patchy, and the lipstick immediately pulls away from your inner lip line and began flaking off before I could even leave the house. I don't know why this one shade is so terribly useless, but it is, and I'll probably just throw it away.<br />
14. <a href="https://www.toofaced.com/p/lipsticks/melted/chihuahua-new/" target="_blank">Too Faced Melted Liquid Lipstick in "Chihuahua"</a> - Something I like: The applicator! It was different but effective and I liked how smoothly the lipstick applied. Something I dislike: The shade was a little too brown and warm for me, so I passed this baby on to my mom, for whom Glossier Skin Tint in "Dark" is too pale. Riddle me that.abidinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16545929553778845667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395380783565201249.post-63432062560220402652017-05-09T15:15:00.000-07:002017-05-09T15:15:30.207-07:00May Check-In<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_CbT1pLMmJMd31b71z9Rr12R-Pf3DV0hiHPHZbAoSk9bA9QqeItDF9e3VxtgdPOs6e4Ip6sphA3Z6I-IXzMyQA5LTUTJWMi3RSqBNHs67oTG2Cxvrw0Lob8_1IyCwsaB6qaFd2_LqwqI/s1600/May_Calendar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_CbT1pLMmJMd31b71z9Rr12R-Pf3DV0hiHPHZbAoSk9bA9QqeItDF9e3VxtgdPOs6e4Ip6sphA3Z6I-IXzMyQA5LTUTJWMi3RSqBNHs67oTG2Cxvrw0Lob8_1IyCwsaB6qaFd2_LqwqI/s640/May_Calendar.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Sorry for my lag in posting. I feel like I have been losing my mind a bit lately, and between work and school I have had little time for the small things that bring me joy - my self-care habits, like this blog or long baths or writing in my planner. I've been failing tremendously in some aspects: my stress shopping is going wild, for example, and I keep clicking "Confirm Purchase" on things I know I do <b>not </b>need. However, I have also had some big life successes. It may be a normal thing for most people, but I made an appointment to see a doctor about my anxiety, I actually went and was prescribed medication. This is a huge deal for me. I have dealt with various manifestations of debilitating anxiety since I was a kid and it is so empowering to have taken this step.<br />
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So, no small goals check-in this month. I can't handle reviewing failures right now. No goals to set for now, either. I am trying to focus on each day individually until I feel like I can breathe again. Hopefully I'll be able to post more soon, as posting really is a fun release for me, but we will see about carving out the time.<br />
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Thanks for reading.<br />
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xx Abbieabidinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16545929553778845667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395380783565201249.post-42396166960239035672017-05-02T15:44:00.001-07:002017-05-02T15:45:32.855-07:00April Birchbox Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmR1Opf41wyP_6aQHi_Sy6yJFWzSA7pfJBkkAFT5_yPAqmyPMv5HeCBVzMSdsDTWdDU6gHGcivWVvZ8F3AaVs8rxcUf8Xg_kdTluGpsFhyphenhyphen77PUfBikNRr3WLrJxvt1Pn6585n1XPT2eqA/s1600/birchbox_april_2017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmR1Opf41wyP_6aQHi_Sy6yJFWzSA7pfJBkkAFT5_yPAqmyPMv5HeCBVzMSdsDTWdDU6gHGcivWVvZ8F3AaVs8rxcUf8Xg_kdTluGpsFhyphenhyphen77PUfBikNRr3WLrJxvt1Pn6585n1XPT2eqA/s640/birchbox_april_2017.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Well, well, well Birchbox, funny seeing you here. Y'all know how I feel about Birchbox (overrated, under delivers), but every now and then they run a promo that is worth paying $10 for. I ended up getting one sample I have really been wanting to try, too, so it wasn't a total wash. <i>However, </i>if I were you, I would wait until Birchbox is running a free gift with subscription deal that is worth it to you (like Lipstick Queen lipsticks or, in this case, the Smashbox mascara) and subscribe then. That way, you are getting a higher end beauty product for $10, plus samples. That's the only situation that makes Birchbox "worth it" for me. That being said, here is my April Birchbox!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIieURB5LAJ9nV4LRa8o0jp-xt3AgnGV4yko0AJKwwpxBthGqcCYSIhgCu5fkI5T6mZ7kHN2jUx61bZsfCEYNbzgL6r8eFomFa6SZU7OnaBWcYNoHH0KWrWYPKEBaait3mhzGYD5_eynQ/s1600/amika_r%252Bco.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIieURB5LAJ9nV4LRa8o0jp-xt3AgnGV4yko0AJKwwpxBthGqcCYSIhgCu5fkI5T6mZ7kHN2jUx61bZsfCEYNbzgL6r8eFomFa6SZU7OnaBWcYNoHH0KWrWYPKEBaait3mhzGYD5_eynQ/s640/amika_r%252Bco.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghu7eX7nyYwpQPRWoRCTL954_aUay0Ivw8DwP7MPlDHWHiEBPhzMk8SDIBmWwpR2cL-bOXXc2vr9tbmKTe_Ag5L8nhP11qgURB26fNA7zNzK5TfIfWUX6bmX1mnKQplg3CGywFp8AkxPU/s1600/beauty_crop_coastal_scents.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghu7eX7nyYwpQPRWoRCTL954_aUay0Ivw8DwP7MPlDHWHiEBPhzMk8SDIBmWwpR2cL-bOXXc2vr9tbmKTe_Ag5L8nhP11qgURB26fNA7zNzK5TfIfWUX6bmX1mnKQplg3CGywFp8AkxPU/s640/beauty_crop_coastal_scents.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbAv-I_ytKrBVR0KjvLPjH_lSR_n1P-l94myYNBpsf3WX2ETlI7wKM-mbeodtWmy-uXvnECC0MuJNSF-ACASStIfnH3r-dE9bLohr8XZeQ-Kp9xznss0r0tWOzMQXBmoxm4F2RgDpo1w/s1600/smashbox_rms_beauty.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbAv-I_ytKrBVR0KjvLPjH_lSR_n1P-l94myYNBpsf3WX2ETlI7wKM-mbeodtWmy-uXvnECC0MuJNSF-ACASStIfnH3r-dE9bLohr8XZeQ-Kp9xznss0r0tWOzMQXBmoxm4F2RgDpo1w/s640/smashbox_rms_beauty.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxRRwZ98JDlc8buKmcjotcBMTD6hqw14o463GQkilHC2JfawNzpyZVuUmr98LqiHOJTUv2aWD7_4I6Gu88yZoDNWEZ7gJWTRFD9DdRKZmnUGqVPYOUwOvW_DZdsRQsa_2NF8wbn5Eegog/s1600/birchbox_swatches.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxRRwZ98JDlc8buKmcjotcBMTD6hqw14o463GQkilHC2JfawNzpyZVuUmr98LqiHOJTUv2aWD7_4I6Gu88yZoDNWEZ7gJWTRFD9DdRKZmnUGqVPYOUwOvW_DZdsRQsa_2NF8wbn5Eegog/s640/birchbox_swatches.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.sephora.com/bombshell-blowout-spray-P404915?skuId=1788264" target="_blank">Amika Blowout Spray</a> | RV $2.40</li>
<li><a href="http://www.neimanmarcus.com/R-Co-Death-Valley-Dry-Shampoo-6-3-oz/prod178620525/p.prod" target="_blank">R+Co Death Valley Dry Shampoo</a> | RV $7.37</li>
<li><a href="https://thebeautycrop.com/collections/grlpwr-liquid-lipsticks" target="_blank">The Beauty Crop Matte Liquid Lipstick</a> | RV $7.48</li>
<li><a href="https://www.coastalscents.com/products/blush-and-bronzer-palette" target="_blank">Coastal Scents Blush & Bronzer Palette Sample</a> | RV ~$4</li>
<li><a href="http://www.dermstore.com/product_The+Ultimate+Makeup+Remover+Wipe_65822.htm" target="_blank">rms beauty Makeup Remover Wipes</a> | RV $1.60</li>
<li>BONUS: <a href="http://www.sephora.com/indecent-exposure-mascara-P406804?skuId=1811900" target="_blank">Smashbox Indecent Exposure Mascara</a> | RV $23</li>
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<b><i>Total Value (excluding bonus): $22.85</i></b></div>
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The sample I am most looking forward to trying is the R+Co Dry Shampoo, but otherwise I am ... <i>unimpressed </i>by this month's box. The retail value, while double the cost of the box, is much lower than the retail value of my April Ipsy. However, I bought the box for the Smashbox mascara, so from <b>that </b>perspective, I got the mascara for $10 + some fun samples, which is much more worth it. </div>
abidinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16545929553778845667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395380783565201249.post-54101926620451942342017-04-26T03:00:00.000-07:002017-04-26T03:00:22.487-07:00Glossier Basics Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rrsdUDjuPXHz99F6-mibEsIOY_pD-0jrGaUNwcwb5Ny65jBLSLzHMUlIsbGcSo9VQ_uB4Fgzo8bjuKX83IswUTi2SY_1FOcOD5Tk7dJ-y5w4sjJAJWrFwfW_4yLQVxahxjuA95ehOKQ/s1600/Glossier_Review_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rrsdUDjuPXHz99F6-mibEsIOY_pD-0jrGaUNwcwb5Ny65jBLSLzHMUlIsbGcSo9VQ_uB4Fgzo8bjuKX83IswUTi2SY_1FOcOD5Tk7dJ-y5w4sjJAJWrFwfW_4yLQVxahxjuA95ehOKQ/s640/Glossier_Review_2.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Sorry to admit it, but I had no interest in Glossier. Once I decided to order from Glossier, I had no interest in <i>liking </i>anything I'd purchased. They catered to me too hard - milennial pink, minimal aesthetic, all these cool girls with their unbrushed hair and full brows and perfect skin ... the vibe is a modern girl cookie cutter, and I didn't want to fall for it. </div>
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And yet, in my not-wanting-to-fall-for-it, I found myself spending $50+ on their website one dull day, you know, <i>just to see. </i>I knew I wouldn't like it. It would break me out or look like nothing on my face. I was sure it was all hype - Glossier probably hired tons of pretty beauty bloggers to hawk their products and they can turn a profit strictly from appealing to a 20-something woman's need to be <i>in </i>without actually putting in any effort. </div>
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Effort is definitely <i>not cool</i>.</div>
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My package arrived significantly quicker than I expected, considering I chose free shipping. Like, three days? Maybe? And I've had a couple of weeks now to test out the three products I ordered, so here is my totally genuine, un-sponsored review of some Glossier basics. </div>
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Item One:<a href="https://www.glossier.com/products/boy-brow" target="_blank"> Glossier Boy Brow</a>. I went with the shade "Brown". At $16 for .11 oz, it's cheaper than <a href="http://www.sephora.com/gimme-brow-P409239" target="_blank">Benefit's $24 Gimme Brow</a> but about four times the cost of <a href="http://www.ulta.com/tinted-brow-mascara?productId=xlsImpprod11861069" target="_blank">Nyx's Tinted Brow Mascara</a>. Inconveniently, I adore it. I recently realized I prefer the Nyx Brow Mascara to Benefit Gimme Brow, as Gimme Brow's additional fibers are a little messy for me and I struggle with over-application. Glossier Boy Brow is, shockingly, so much better than either of them (in my opinion). The formula is light and doesn't smudge against my skin, but still shapes and darkens my brows. I'm interested to see how quickly I go through it, but I'm planning to repurchase. (FYI, for a budget buy, I do recommend the Nyx Brow Mascara, but I do not recommend Benefit Gimme Brow based on quality vs. cost, even as a splurge. Definitely go with Glossier Boy Brow.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2UUOJTiJyLvCy02X6uKoNkhB55p94gJsK8iEWwaAMtnkfVCHJmM4TfZy6mIsGP6B_wW30o0usf7IV7X3oqi_wINlHu62IhXPEHSBJB3-2HmwL9EfqV1Lxw00Mlsug5xFosbHbhPxpKc/s1600/Glossier_Priming_Moisturizer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2UUOJTiJyLvCy02X6uKoNkhB55p94gJsK8iEWwaAMtnkfVCHJmM4TfZy6mIsGP6B_wW30o0usf7IV7X3oqi_wINlHu62IhXPEHSBJB3-2HmwL9EfqV1Lxw00Mlsug5xFosbHbhPxpKc/s640/Glossier_Priming_Moisturizer.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Item Two:<a href="https://www.glossier.com/products/priming-moisturizer" target="_blank"> Glossier Priming Moisturizer</a>. I mentioned in my <a href="http://callme-dina.blogspot.com/2017/03/10-skincare-favorites-right-now.html" target="_blank">current skincare favorites post last month</a> that I was desperately searching for a daytime moisturizer, and I am starting to become pretty fond of this one. It's $25 for 1.7 oz, which is reasonable in the skincare world. I think the item I would most closely compare it to is the <a href="http://www.sephora.com/hello-fab-coconut-skin-smoothie-priming-moisturizer-P415237" target="_blank">Hello FAB Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturizer</a>, which I also really like but which costs a few dollars more for the same amount. I don't think you should consider either "priming moisturizer" as a replacement for using a separate moisturizer and primer, but rather as a lightweight, sensitive-skin-friendly daytime moisturizer that you can either pair with the Glossier Skin Tint (below) or follow with primer and foundation for a full makeup look. On Glossier's website, they convey the same thing: "'Priming' means that it instantly brings out the best in your skin, so you have a fresh, glowing canvas," which sounds conveniently like "Please god don't expect this to function like an actual primer" to me. So, to recap: Primer, no. Daytime moisturizer, definitely, yes, highly recommended.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLxsrBLGEBkSCp6wJCsu-tr4thG-4WxwWolqoK9mcKVFzjko6qzLRMZOX8o5XQuBbPdq50GjtvQzXGBD3giFaERczaCvmpRUyowCT_TOuZijmWz2wi4UT54CFVOuzfKwZ-bfuxYm0hDo/s1600/Glossier_Skin_Tint_Light.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLxsrBLGEBkSCp6wJCsu-tr4thG-4WxwWolqoK9mcKVFzjko6qzLRMZOX8o5XQuBbPdq50GjtvQzXGBD3giFaERczaCvmpRUyowCT_TOuZijmWz2wi4UT54CFVOuzfKwZ-bfuxYm0hDo/s640/Glossier_Skin_Tint_Light.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Item 3: <a href="https://www.glossier.com/products/perfecting-skin-tint" target="_blank">Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint in shade "Light"</a>. I kind of sort of think this is most controversial of Glossier's products. Is it doing anything? Is it a bottle of $26 tinted water? Is this a placebo effect? Am I losing my mind? (Yes.) First of all, I like this product. I do. It is easy and quick and does combine well with the priming moisturizer. Could I ever use it on a bad skin day? No way. It doesn't blur blemishes, so if you're broken out, it won't do a dang thing. Thankfully, my skin has been really #blessed lately and Glossier products haven't flared up any bad behavior, so I do like it on already-pretty-ish skin. It softens my look and (when combined with concealer) helps me look bright and fresh. For going out, I'd still prefer an entire foundation, but since the loss of my beloved <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lumene-Freeze-Cream-Light-Fluid/dp/B00E4OEJNW" target="_blank">Lumene BB Cream</a>, I'm genuinely happy with the look of the skin tint... you know, until that hormonal acne hits again.<br />
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So, ANNOYINGLY, I apparently like Glossier. It's not full glam and it never will be, but it's easy and functional for every day and it isn't irritating to my infuriatingly sensitive skin. You can try it yourself, if you wanna, and get 20% off whenever you use my link <a href="http://bff.glossier.com/fn7kn" target="_blank">here</a>.abidinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16545929553778845667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395380783565201249.post-78826950035511313532017-04-24T03:00:00.000-07:002017-04-25T16:00:46.772-07:00Airbnbs Around the World for Less Than $100 A Night<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY11UHrR-ncdfdROw7k-748CITPMeG_Z0i8twthc8wqCK10_9mUfVjIp2xcLesd7ifreVBfLntg-kInMtJJCU_hnCE-CGSh7JZJPLPrp-EVAQaNtGAsEiTpjbHrQpqUn5w5XyUa12t2nA/s1600/airbnb_pinterest.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY11UHrR-ncdfdROw7k-748CITPMeG_Z0i8twthc8wqCK10_9mUfVjIp2xcLesd7ifreVBfLntg-kInMtJJCU_hnCE-CGSh7JZJPLPrp-EVAQaNtGAsEiTpjbHrQpqUn5w5XyUa12t2nA/s640/airbnb_pinterest.png" width="425" /></a></div>
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Clearly, I am not a travel blogger. <i>Yet. </i>It's always been a dream of mine, but between work and school I can barely find the time to make the two hour trip to visit my family, let alone fly across the world. However, I do daydream <i>a lot </i>and I read travel blogs <i>a lot</i> and I plan future trip goals <i>a lot </i>and one thing I have noticed over the past few months of reading travel blogs is that when bloggers say "affordable" to describe boutique locations, they clearly mean a different kind of "affordable" than my student loan repayments can accommodate. It's totally cool if you want to stay in a $400 per night treehouse in Bali, but I'm trying to avoid wallowing in debt until I'm in my grave. </div>
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Through my own scouring of the interweb, I have found some of the coolest, most interesting places for <i>super </i>reasonable prices. I chose to focus specifically on <a href="http://www.airbnb.com/c/aholder85" target="_blank">Airbnb </a> (though <a href="https://www.booking.com/s/0e9bd592" target="_blank">Booking.com</a> is also a great resource with helpful search tools) and I am only listing properties that are less than $100 per night to have the entire house (or apartment) to yourself. They may not be the peak of luxury or they may be off the beaten path, but they are beautiful, inspiring, and within my puny budget! Ready? Happy daydreaming! </div>
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1. Riad in <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/833291" target="_blank">Marrakesh, Morroco </a>| $63 per night</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI43DxaGseV7_kGRFSosTFRDSuuZ7f4iIg8QBLvl2UdiTdgTYhpF_kL5Ogg0GBggwrGz7lkoYrwgukstJMGmy5wQ6PyIke5BoGD6fEwZ7_DaRXQpJZCyKcYT8ea2BqYTaSMK3huLznnlQ/s1600/Marrakech_Riad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI43DxaGseV7_kGRFSosTFRDSuuZ7f4iIg8QBLvl2UdiTdgTYhpF_kL5Ogg0GBggwrGz7lkoYrwgukstJMGmy5wQ6PyIke5BoGD6fEwZ7_DaRXQpJZCyKcYT8ea2BqYTaSMK3huLznnlQ/s640/Marrakech_Riad.jpg" width="640" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNDO5ShQoFvFeW2NHCSCXfYJT3Na6NTLykv6lhLpAoS8hEQxUnEHEHNbC37-sUrF0LdgP9LMrGHgfExYivyms28t4Eh_pUQ8INwx1Ihpymv75OShGg_LHalZ0kThiitT-vQ43stWFz0c/s1600/Room_In_Marrakech_Riad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNDO5ShQoFvFeW2NHCSCXfYJT3Na6NTLykv6lhLpAoS8hEQxUnEHEHNbC37-sUrF0LdgP9LMrGHgfExYivyms28t4Eh_pUQ8INwx1Ihpymv75OShGg_LHalZ0kThiitT-vQ43stWFz0c/s640/Room_In_Marrakech_Riad.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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2. Apartment in <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/735683" target="_blank">Hvar, Croatia </a>| $43 per night</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYxqR_e0eMB-r61jFMa6t6rgBbUCIIOXgml0MYHQuSiMLQzHkEAGkVTx2jCuvTaoXRKimUYb3cO_OlcBZbu-6hDgj0a6-ogworqitfSzdPzdP6_fukkcxxS_zSdSexEtB3thHoIBdso4/s1600/Airbnb_Hvar_Croatia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYxqR_e0eMB-r61jFMa6t6rgBbUCIIOXgml0MYHQuSiMLQzHkEAGkVTx2jCuvTaoXRKimUYb3cO_OlcBZbu-6hDgj0a6-ogworqitfSzdPzdP6_fukkcxxS_zSdSexEtB3thHoIBdso4/s640/Airbnb_Hvar_Croatia.jpg" width="640" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DYhO07BO9gLV14ZOVDaLdm0UDd4qNlama07YYZCOGCh592fJ6UGzQ3o5wn8bX42hIgf8lio1rbHFxf0AEWT-qB8-vwrqgghfxVshKK6NOxTksCZ7uldfkIC0b4IwKvfzPqsZf0Q3oS4/s1600/Hvar_Croatia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DYhO07BO9gLV14ZOVDaLdm0UDd4qNlama07YYZCOGCh592fJ6UGzQ3o5wn8bX42hIgf8lio1rbHFxf0AEWT-qB8-vwrqgghfxVshKK6NOxTksCZ7uldfkIC0b4IwKvfzPqsZf0Q3oS4/s640/Hvar_Croatia.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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3. Cabana in <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/3993887" target="_blank"> Armenia, Colombia </a>| $49 per night</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLakHTuA6sr-x6Uj8F_EAdZQbN6CyPgeOpA68JRx09nyHyPulbBjJivREY1p4695dHHuwWRLixbGuHIZHtQWgC6cBBNw4zxRiH3ArhF5HUyDHxghln0Uu3tIIFkkU72udY1sV3kTQ8Ro/s1600/Colombia_Cabana_Airbnb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLakHTuA6sr-x6Uj8F_EAdZQbN6CyPgeOpA68JRx09nyHyPulbBjJivREY1p4695dHHuwWRLixbGuHIZHtQWgC6cBBNw4zxRiH3ArhF5HUyDHxghln0Uu3tIIFkkU72udY1sV3kTQ8Ro/s640/Colombia_Cabana_Airbnb.jpg" width="640" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvoT_a48vKLooOlLowgHb2mYLAq0FZ8QknpZCYhXor4z9aK08GoQF28vQJxznURy8wqOIpWObN_8EJh7tpN2O7qs5P0fU4NiuyiBQd4yVxhfGmowpAcAeynJpFGg2ZSlhcJ2LrRAdh_uM/s1600/Colombia_Cabana_OutdoorShower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvoT_a48vKLooOlLowgHb2mYLAq0FZ8QknpZCYhXor4z9aK08GoQF28vQJxznURy8wqOIpWObN_8EJh7tpN2O7qs5P0fU4NiuyiBQd4yVxhfGmowpAcAeynJpFGg2ZSlhcJ2LrRAdh_uM/s640/Colombia_Cabana_OutdoorShower.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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4. Villa in <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/432044" target="_blank">Ostuni, Italy </a>| $67 per night</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuaCG2wuNv3Fa706prPZYBnE2yV54WK46joVC8kRVmGH0H2uLn-Besz2wfLW6B4CbqheQ9fnPPJzrqmECB1cEsM8J_zIoH4cJXo2wcYH2GMLMaT_R1K5W0nWoK21CyfmxISSVS3-e25t4/s1600/italian_villa_airbnb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuaCG2wuNv3Fa706prPZYBnE2yV54WK46joVC8kRVmGH0H2uLn-Besz2wfLW6B4CbqheQ9fnPPJzrqmECB1cEsM8J_zIoH4cJXo2wcYH2GMLMaT_R1K5W0nWoK21CyfmxISSVS3-e25t4/s640/italian_villa_airbnb.jpg" width="640" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8Nn7x0rir2JNT-hrWf5W8iBYsU3NpPey0SxFERZm8LfSj6-j2RFATwAbkbFdkuEHMHudLCsBs4o85gaahcuSJSRjv7Ed7rzr9SHSVp7ZqDkcqkgJK7v6fhPazDabVir2lxj79qrhk4M/s1600/italian_villa_airbnb_bedroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8Nn7x0rir2JNT-hrWf5W8iBYsU3NpPey0SxFERZm8LfSj6-j2RFATwAbkbFdkuEHMHudLCsBs4o85gaahcuSJSRjv7Ed7rzr9SHSVp7ZqDkcqkgJK7v6fhPazDabVir2lxj79qrhk4M/s640/italian_villa_airbnb_bedroom.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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5. Apartment in <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1984135" target="_blank">Paris, France</a> | $83 per night</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3Ru-pRWgAWJdUfe7MJfZSiucznKPVgvw6n-2UaY2yp1PZ1Y_mDAfaOvkZtaDO7PoqOF4BgUuX5Nukv-KfJooLbyaTX5U7lar7UgdetGVi5zyt1T5XtJvAYQ3xrCEKrykB0R5RGsfSj4/s1600/paris_france_airbnb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3Ru-pRWgAWJdUfe7MJfZSiucznKPVgvw6n-2UaY2yp1PZ1Y_mDAfaOvkZtaDO7PoqOF4BgUuX5Nukv-KfJooLbyaTX5U7lar7UgdetGVi5zyt1T5XtJvAYQ3xrCEKrykB0R5RGsfSj4/s640/paris_france_airbnb.jpg" width="640" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikb4eQew8Idfpefm3HEEJszjH84OM3EzQ0FasWDqdsQ55qHp-YtONJ7nhcjskearSu1I4XJdHBJmHg2pMvNo5z2a2lCdf-ZpuKcGSqUZsPfD-gtuGQkcoEW0RECWSueUco8t4XbGTOq2s/s1600/paris_france_airbnb_balcony_view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikb4eQew8Idfpefm3HEEJszjH84OM3EzQ0FasWDqdsQ55qHp-YtONJ7nhcjskearSu1I4XJdHBJmHg2pMvNo5z2a2lCdf-ZpuKcGSqUZsPfD-gtuGQkcoEW0RECWSueUco8t4XbGTOq2s/s640/paris_france_airbnb_balcony_view.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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6. Studio in <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/887770" target="_blank">Oia, Greece</a> | $83 per night </h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7S3-khHnbL4qnJO3Ogj6uIDWdn2i0QkWERiipqpIv048FWMArdJL4gHHiZHZtutqqYlDx8qU2UMerySK434CsyorsliTHBbjgY5_K4vOroPspa-BLYFd3XP9tc1_He1bj9RagicEayk/s1600/oia_santorini_greece_airbnb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7S3-khHnbL4qnJO3Ogj6uIDWdn2i0QkWERiipqpIv048FWMArdJL4gHHiZHZtutqqYlDx8qU2UMerySK434CsyorsliTHBbjgY5_K4vOroPspa-BLYFd3XP9tc1_He1bj9RagicEayk/s640/oia_santorini_greece_airbnb.jpg" width="640" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4-QcpeNzQ_c36cIc4IGOSKf__wGkMep6rxLb0NcLtg49DAAFnGlb6HtOLe5AeGOsoSrkQjV_IjvFkMQ2Usr07e35l0S5c1yt2lw7SKuMgkNjEYGlsuetKkJtaTRG1piWWzeBCgFWqtY/s1600/oia_santorini_greece_airbnb_kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4-QcpeNzQ_c36cIc4IGOSKf__wGkMep6rxLb0NcLtg49DAAFnGlb6HtOLe5AeGOsoSrkQjV_IjvFkMQ2Usr07e35l0S5c1yt2lw7SKuMgkNjEYGlsuetKkJtaTRG1piWWzeBCgFWqtY/s640/oia_santorini_greece_airbnb_kitchen.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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7. Cave in <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/735784" target="_blank">Granada, Spain </a>| $56 per night</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_fazxjPGo9vf31z3MANpu0-wy5FvVRZ3yhD1-iriapi8XDuzSB6DJSjJ-BdW4tpL126LXAyJPMcm8SWznKbHRSR3_XpmC1K9qMhp2RtS16CPfsjQC_jCqembQSmArCioWXOTFTS7FJg/s1600/granada_cave_airbnb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_fazxjPGo9vf31z3MANpu0-wy5FvVRZ3yhD1-iriapi8XDuzSB6DJSjJ-BdW4tpL126LXAyJPMcm8SWznKbHRSR3_XpmC1K9qMhp2RtS16CPfsjQC_jCqembQSmArCioWXOTFTS7FJg/s640/granada_cave_airbnb.jpg" width="640" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4k6aWRJbIwVsB4ZZDstIGeEkT3_4NvcH2YVfwesje1HMbY3nAj15WbvllcoEhfiLvKrhiPzCHh-4thfQAWPD8blO2oX5uJ2NMxs6H3ZPQsakrJLUvstqyv5CcrzrXz1Ih5vThcIijlNU/s1600/granada_cave_airbnb_garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4k6aWRJbIwVsB4ZZDstIGeEkT3_4NvcH2YVfwesje1HMbY3nAj15WbvllcoEhfiLvKrhiPzCHh-4thfQAWPD8blO2oX5uJ2NMxs6H3ZPQsakrJLUvstqyv5CcrzrXz1Ih5vThcIijlNU/s640/granada_cave_airbnb_garden.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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8. Beach House in <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/156247" target="_blank">Santa Catarina, Brazil</a> | $81 per night</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpEFfDurj8EieCWmDNTpEUeI6Ucls_v1Jigm7fcAcpTtKLgJQvOo4E52SClGIwMV6fGNU1P7cL1wfrLySSRzn6b_aSABfGmHgROUt_A3L7ftiO-ccM2AijmkYA4e1Mr-NICgGJWyu8fE/s1600/brazil_private_beach_house_airbnb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpEFfDurj8EieCWmDNTpEUeI6Ucls_v1Jigm7fcAcpTtKLgJQvOo4E52SClGIwMV6fGNU1P7cL1wfrLySSRzn6b_aSABfGmHgROUt_A3L7ftiO-ccM2AijmkYA4e1Mr-NICgGJWyu8fE/s640/brazil_private_beach_house_airbnb.jpg" width="640" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsSMxXiOQwf31XjhX7vgYq0gzS8Ey_PJt5bKmbf0MdYdG4U04NQ558CFXEDn64gYRiZWYIWmlt1dokpJs1PNVfFg-BhyEqUJAdWEYWa6K6kkc0K_3y11Vl1qLsMa8VWW80me-vjeb69f0/s1600/brazil_private_beach_house_airbnb_terrace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsSMxXiOQwf31XjhX7vgYq0gzS8Ey_PJt5bKmbf0MdYdG4U04NQ558CFXEDn64gYRiZWYIWmlt1dokpJs1PNVfFg-BhyEqUJAdWEYWa6K6kkc0K_3y11Vl1qLsMa8VWW80me-vjeb69f0/s640/brazil_private_beach_house_airbnb_terrace.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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9. Apartment in <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/10201545" target="_blank">Vienna, Austria</a> | $77 per night</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAyL60ZLHxqA5N0p-HM-n5Q6ix4MzA8kGQTTTJMN7C7L5KrnMVcYvRxcihmjt-eAPIUi7Md3lThEjhXIxll3QP0mraHyY0aOcJlOGFc_S8xJyF4XJNmwHuwXcQOs1r8qzT9KOc89YVQ4/s1600/vienna_austria_airbnb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAyL60ZLHxqA5N0p-HM-n5Q6ix4MzA8kGQTTTJMN7C7L5KrnMVcYvRxcihmjt-eAPIUi7Md3lThEjhXIxll3QP0mraHyY0aOcJlOGFc_S8xJyF4XJNmwHuwXcQOs1r8qzT9KOc89YVQ4/s640/vienna_austria_airbnb.jpg" width="640" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmM3xoSQhYRjT37Y5iiUbUAm_mY7KSPFgPwrTf04aOlph-6bTAeIiY2_m-M_LY3S5IUlLOXAAgwn74977w2oFKpTN1AGBBeOdj1L-rXBto9m5sCudR7h3P9KPd4YJ9c-dTogm_GBVk6aM/s1600/vienna_austria_airbnb_exterior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmM3xoSQhYRjT37Y5iiUbUAm_mY7KSPFgPwrTf04aOlph-6bTAeIiY2_m-M_LY3S5IUlLOXAAgwn74977w2oFKpTN1AGBBeOdj1L-rXBto9m5sCudR7h3P9KPd4YJ9c-dTogm_GBVk6aM/s640/vienna_austria_airbnb_exterior.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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10. Studio in <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/2791283" target="_blank">Perast, Montenegro</a> | $44 per night</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDYDE6tnpesaji5AVmYnCtsrJP0q6lwsrUrKVK3YfnQSd3WWmgEUDcn6TWkLUzRyHh8i-KASkvuLGxCaNJoIfyIg3KslBNKhyphenhyphenLT0Yt03G-YjKh1Bl1A8ZUUtp0LGdfsqv3tId6Pe9XT64/s1600/montenegro_terrace_airbnb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDYDE6tnpesaji5AVmYnCtsrJP0q6lwsrUrKVK3YfnQSd3WWmgEUDcn6TWkLUzRyHh8i-KASkvuLGxCaNJoIfyIg3KslBNKhyphenhyphenLT0Yt03G-YjKh1Bl1A8ZUUtp0LGdfsqv3tId6Pe9XT64/s640/montenegro_terrace_airbnb.jpg" width="640" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMHj0xD5yVgaFlp_Y57fX2tN4yYfu3azf5ZeRHjTXOrA-fBp9PJk5v-NTaiCxcwVOjGV_IjDMZHY6r_08J6_PJyTve0UTSSXYzZkoG6sDZVxc_nIv1GKmKC79OTPnIknA45__c6wC7g8/s1600/montenegro_terrace_airbnb_exterior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMHj0xD5yVgaFlp_Y57fX2tN4yYfu3azf5ZeRHjTXOrA-fBp9PJk5v-NTaiCxcwVOjGV_IjDMZHY6r_08J6_PJyTve0UTSSXYzZkoG6sDZVxc_nIv1GKmKC79OTPnIknA45__c6wC7g8/s640/montenegro_terrace_airbnb_exterior.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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abidinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16545929553778845667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395380783565201249.post-31111823837320800652017-04-22T05:54:00.000-07:002017-04-22T05:54:00.611-07:00April Ipsy Glambag Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUD_I-Bd4G5Qhe_LtBPWMNOQlX7RTg-I_kr12FCtJdO0KfpXRV45pcrNNUxH75K1edowDHzEtEgrf3bh79ZgRlVY4OkKXTSSlsyc5VqyB5jrJbw5HweMaWwIF4aQGb9NGvQTNxVg5iM0/s1600/April_Ipsy_Glam_Bag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="april 2017 ipsy glambag reveal " border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUD_I-Bd4G5Qhe_LtBPWMNOQlX7RTg-I_kr12FCtJdO0KfpXRV45pcrNNUxH75K1edowDHzEtEgrf3bh79ZgRlVY4OkKXTSSlsyc5VqyB5jrJbw5HweMaWwIF4aQGb9NGvQTNxVg5iM0/s640/April_Ipsy_Glam_Bag.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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The amount of beauty boxes I receive has decreased quite a bit over the past few months, but <a href="https://www.ipsy.com/new?cid=ppage_ref&sid=link&refer=y11id" target="_blank">Ipsy </a>has done a great job of satiating my desire for cute mail and new products without blowing my budget. April's Ipsy Glambag was pretty on target for me. I even thought the kitschy little ticket bag was cute and different, though a lot of people have been complaining about it. Different strokes! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCRhe_Xcr_N5AMutpjLdsHhR-IaRrAIeCT-Ufw58ZRPQdR4Isl-o87l8bE02J40Hq2spLbcQiwZU2vHogQW75hLroGIkZWQr6MDNGf9Ryjlhv4G6XSDdu7d7d3wWD9YTnpZeR42KHuK6g/s1600/Mica_Beauty_Highlighter_SkinCo_Toner.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="mica beauty highlighter 3 skin and co truffle therapy face toner " border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCRhe_Xcr_N5AMutpjLdsHhR-IaRrAIeCT-Ufw58ZRPQdR4Isl-o87l8bE02J40Hq2spLbcQiwZU2vHogQW75hLroGIkZWQr6MDNGf9Ryjlhv4G6XSDdu7d7d3wWD9YTnpZeR42KHuK6g/s320/Mica_Beauty_Highlighter_SkinCo_Toner.JPG" title="" width="320" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5ocNJ76KZVCeKnORC0a8NvQPGUk2WYOsO9Jn8ZxXWZ6sZ_MsIG5RxOlQET4zGIdxGI2xsp2VM5aqsY6XAiIcUAk-AIiDC3d_eM820eFXBSwoNPwELJZomEVKsaLN9j7eQhoTpgbvoGY/s1600/TonyMoly_Pantone_Lip_Balm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="tonymoly pantone liptone lip care stick lip balm honey moisture" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5ocNJ76KZVCeKnORC0a8NvQPGUk2WYOsO9Jn8ZxXWZ6sZ_MsIG5RxOlQET4zGIdxGI2xsp2VM5aqsY6XAiIcUAk-AIiDC3d_eM820eFXBSwoNPwELJZomEVKsaLN9j7eQhoTpgbvoGY/s320/TonyMoly_Pantone_Lip_Balm.JPG" title="" width="320" /></a></div>
This month, my Ipsy bag contained:<br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.micabeauty.com/highlight-3.html" target="_blank">Mica Beauty Highlight #3</a> | RV $13.88, Though pretty and pigmented, I think the loose powder may be too difficult to use as a highlighter, and the shade is a little too rich of a gold to look right on my skintone. I considered keeping it as an eyeshadow, and I think it would work great as one, but I have enough gold shimmer eyeshadows, so I'll be passing it on. </li>
<li><a href="http://www.ulta.com/truffle-therapy-face-toner?productId=xlsImpprod15981103" target="_blank">Skin & Co Truffle Therapy Face Toner</a> | RV $4.05, I could see how this would be the least exciting item to some, but I've been hoping to get a toner I could travel with for a few months now. It's perfect for me! </li>
<li><a href="https://www.urbanoutfitters.com/shop/tonymoly-liptone-lipcare-stick?color=080&quantity=1&size=ONE%20SIZE&type=REGULAR" target="_blank">TonyMoly Liptone Lipcare Stick</a> | RV $10, "Honey Moisture", These TonyMoly balms are your ordinary lip balm, but I adore the Pantone-inspired packaging. </li>
<li><a href="https://lisafrankxglamourdolls.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders" target="_blank">Lisa Frank x Glamour Dolls Unicorn Angled Blush Brush </a>| RV $5, I specifically requested this silly, nostalgic brush. It is beautiful and fluffy and I'm glad to have it. I have had good luck with Glamour Dolls brushes (specifically this<a href="https://glamourdollsmakeup.com/products/sperm-whale-brush" target="_blank"> sperm whale blending brush</a>) in the past, in spite of their low prices. </li>
<li><a href="http://www.target.com/p/defy-inspire-153-nail-polish-paradise-island0-5-oz/-/A-49161119" target="_blank">Defy & Inspire Nail Lacquer</a> | RV $7.49, "Paradise", I love nail polish pretty indiscriminately and am skipping Julep in May, so this was a happy filler polish. </li>
<li>POINT REDEMPTION: <a href="https://www.vintagecosmetics.com/products/illuminating-face-highlighter?variant=13698441030" target="_blank">Vintage by Jessica Liebeskind Illuminating Face Highlighter</a> | RV $32, "Crystal Pink", A gorgeous, full-sized, pink-toned highlighter that I received for free due to redeeming Ipsy points. Swatched below. </li>
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<b>Total Retail Value: $40.42</b></div>
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<i>And that's excluding the $32 bonus highlighter!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUJrR0giDwKlyPfAnIBWilFqYBEHEujMxh1STjutG9oM9CKGafDblrd-cIGXfn7qn9aNqO-kRZwwIuboNTevfbBLLSQ6EI4DIfeTK4iX3qHuk4wz1wmPalAjBBsHs_uTjKa6ZrcfkDEM/s1600/Vintage_Highlighter_Lisa_Frank_Brush.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="jessice liebeskind vintage highlighter crystal pink lisa frank glamour dolls unicorn blush brush" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUJrR0giDwKlyPfAnIBWilFqYBEHEujMxh1STjutG9oM9CKGafDblrd-cIGXfn7qn9aNqO-kRZwwIuboNTevfbBLLSQ6EI4DIfeTK4iX3qHuk4wz1wmPalAjBBsHs_uTjKa6ZrcfkDEM/s320/Vintage_Highlighter_Lisa_Frank_Brush.JPG" title="" width="320" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-U8tNu8uZfrYJHtbUYuJUmun0xp4PWkBsJ7LQqeekFUsB_9IcHiDaGBgkEGhPl69BJSGt0GfWpqmQYluV08_NZufWLTT779xWBLpdBUegijGlbmsC7tMPjlq1zJnLZWL5x5z6CGyYQgs/s1600/Defy_Inspire_Nail_Polish_Paradise.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="defy & inspire nail polish paradise" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-U8tNu8uZfrYJHtbUYuJUmun0xp4PWkBsJ7LQqeekFUsB_9IcHiDaGBgkEGhPl69BJSGt0GfWpqmQYluV08_NZufWLTT779xWBLpdBUegijGlbmsC7tMPjlq1zJnLZWL5x5z6CGyYQgs/s320/Defy_Inspire_Nail_Polish_Paradise.JPG" title="" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJo7gnFikxOrDWauR8J6sbxjeGgQUdGHGUKpdprN4y5yjsyUkPCtusYpulVYkdy_Typ4n5bidNjxdvwFU9A8V02OYfCS9LvwY2DuCp9JgW_M9rZdeLpC6gKLkszWjDGucfQNAOoO9JVHI/s1600/Ipsy_Glambag_Swatches.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ipsy April Glambag Swatches MicaBeauty Highlighter Jessica Liebeskind Vintage Highlighter" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJo7gnFikxOrDWauR8J6sbxjeGgQUdGHGUKpdprN4y5yjsyUkPCtusYpulVYkdy_Typ4n5bidNjxdvwFU9A8V02OYfCS9LvwY2DuCp9JgW_M9rZdeLpC6gKLkszWjDGucfQNAOoO9JVHI/s640/Ipsy_Glambag_Swatches.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />abidinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16545929553778845667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395380783565201249.post-80494003758799124282017-04-17T03:00:00.000-07:002017-04-17T09:58:55.841-07:00Create Your Own Palette with Buxom Eyeshadow Bar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxqVyf3Ca6K0LO0pxRkTZODP7to3DpEexHsXD97o9ZNfyhXwIM1OMuFy_k6j1nj3BsvewznzZSZve1gt4ugjiUdagtcFQ2vxU_lJ_2MeToroNzLvb7dPZDhCmuBn1ZR6upKzoqK0AX0Q/s1600/IMG_6346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Buxom Customizable Eyeshadow Palette" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxqVyf3Ca6K0LO0pxRkTZODP7to3DpEexHsXD97o9ZNfyhXwIM1OMuFy_k6j1nj3BsvewznzZSZve1gt4ugjiUdagtcFQ2vxU_lJ_2MeToroNzLvb7dPZDhCmuBn1ZR6upKzoqK0AX0Q/s640/IMG_6346.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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Apparently I am way late to the game (I mean, years late) but did you know that you can create custom eyeshadow palettes with <a href="http://www.sephora.com/buxom-customizable-eyeshadow-bar-palette-P398112?skuId=1719392" target="_blank">Buxom's eyeshadow bar</a>? For $40 you can choose six shades (each shade retails for $12) to put into an empty palette and voila! You can fill in any voids in your eyeshadow collection without having to buy a pre-curated palette full of the same neutral matte shades you own twenty of.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Uj7Vo17JzY0MJTc9wsoacfoeq7Fus9KSnr93wzFFrbAGxpVcRV-bLPPaKKKJfg8UVH8bOts6ccilyHDRwULorbpjwnsmWjPvoAA-xt9SFoK43nLjCFTWB6_o9N_cXYOO4NbTiunPveo/s1600/IMG_6349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Buxom Eyeshadow Bar Singles in Silk Sheets, Gold Status, Party Girl, La-La Lavish, and Silver Screen" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Uj7Vo17JzY0MJTc9wsoacfoeq7Fus9KSnr93wzFFrbAGxpVcRV-bLPPaKKKJfg8UVH8bOts6ccilyHDRwULorbpjwnsmWjPvoAA-xt9SFoK43nLjCFTWB6_o9N_cXYOO4NbTiunPveo/s640/IMG_6349.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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This was, of course, great news for me. I had been strongly considering the <a href="http://www.ulta.com/modern-renaissance-eyeshadow-palette?productId=xlsImpprod14291015" target="_blank">Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette</a>, but I just do not need another slew of neutral mattes. I was able to dupe the shades I wanted most (Vermeer, Primavera, Love Letter, and a combination of Antique Bronze and Venetian Red) while also filling some holes in my collection. How have I, cool-toned pastel queen, gone this long without and iridescent lavender eyeshadow or a shimmery, highly pigmented silver? Only God can tell.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9v0cG9kkJBb6wE86Sy4mN15GOVYOopeU3KiAwq1hU3myjx-pouq52_fN-nieYt8wHV2b6FTZ7T3UYDKkZmIFjMWDsu6rh7K4d7wbteRqtpQDIH_7fdwPIIp7Uw2xG4uUml3cIfPtlTf0/s1600/IMG_6348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Buxom Eyeshadow Bar Singles in Silk Sheets, Gold Status, Party Girl, La-La Lavish, and Silver Screen Swatches " border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9v0cG9kkJBb6wE86Sy4mN15GOVYOopeU3KiAwq1hU3myjx-pouq52_fN-nieYt8wHV2b6FTZ7T3UYDKkZmIFjMWDsu6rh7K4d7wbteRqtpQDIH_7fdwPIIp7Uw2xG4uUml3cIfPtlTf0/s640/IMG_6348.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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The shades I chose for my custom palette are as follows: </div>
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<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.sephora.com/buxom-eyeshadow-bar-single-eyeshadow-refill-P397514?skuId=1849363" target="_blank">Silver Screen</a> | Buxom describes Silver Screen as a silver lilac, while Temptalia describes it as a "cool lavender", but to me it reads true silver. Silver Screen is metallic and extremely pigmented with a creamy feel. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.sephora.com/buxom-eyeshadow-bar-single-eyeshadow-refill-P397514?skuId=1700632" target="_blank">La-La-Lavish</a> | I'm sure part of the reason Silver Screen seems so un-lavender to me is because I've put it beside La-La-Lavish, a beautiful iridescent lavender. I am also looking forward to trying this as a highlighter! It looks like a shade that would fit perfectly into <a href="http://www.anastasiabeverlyhills.com/glow-kit-moonchild/ABH01-18159.html" target="_blank">Anastasia Beverly Hills Moon Child</a> or <a href="http://www.anastasiabeverlyhills.com/glow-kit-aurora/ABH01-18163.html" target="_blank">Aurora Glow Kits</a>. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.sephora.com/buxom-eyeshadow-bar-single-eyeshadow-refill-P397514?skuId=1700475" target="_blank">Wild Nights</a> | A "shimmering sugar plum", Wild Nights is an interesting eyeshadow combining berry, orange, and pink shades all into one shimmer shadow. If Modern Renaissance could be duped by one shadow and one alone, this would be it. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.sephora.com/buxom-eyeshadow-bar-single-eyeshadow-refill-P397514?skuId=1700616" target="_blank">Party Girl</a> | Party Girl is riding the wave of my newfound love for pink-toned eyeshadows and I am <i>so </i>excited to own it. I initially thought the bright fuchsia was a matte, but as I blended out the swatch I realized it has a pretty pearl finish, which I much prefer! I am ready to acknowledge that pink eyeshadow may be to 2017 what blue eyeshadow was to the 80's, but I'm prepared to go down with this ship. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.sephora.com/buxom-eyeshadow-bar-single-eyeshadow-refill-P397514?skuId=1700517" target="_blank">Gold Status</a> | I was initially concerned that Gold Status would be too similar to <a href="http://www.sephora.com/eyeshadow-P309813?skuId=1402999" target="_blank">Urban Decay's Half-Baked </a>from my <a href="http://www.sephora.com/naked2-P302916" target="_blank">Naked 2 palette</a>, but comparatively Half-Baked is more coppery an less vivid while Gold Status is a true metallic gold. It's highly pigmented and buttery to the touch.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.sephora.com/buxom-eyeshadow-bar-single-eyeshadow-refill-P397514?skuId=1700574" target="_blank">Silk Sheets</a> | Described by Buxom as a "chai luster", whatever that means, I think Silk Sheets is going to be beautiful as a brow bone highlight and as a brightener in the inner corner of my eye. It's soft and smooth and I chose it to replace <a href="http://www.sephora.com/naked2-P302916" target="_blank">Naked 2's Bootycall</a>, which never shows up on my fair skin no matter how heavily I pack it on. </li>
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I am pleased as punch to have finally bitten the bullet on one of these Buxom Build Your Own Palettes, and I am already itching for more (don't worry, don't worry, I won't break my no-buy for it). Other shades I'm interested in trying are <a href="http://www.sephora.com/buxom-eyeshadow-bar-single-eyeshadow-refill-P397514?skuId=1700673" target="_blank">It Girl</a>, a glimmering cayenne, <a href="http://www.sephora.com/buxom-eyeshadow-bar-single-eyeshadow-refill-P397514?skuId=1849330" target="_blank">Twilight Tryst</a>, an iridescent peacock, and <a href="http://www.sephora.com/buxom-eyeshadow-bar-single-eyeshadow-refill-P397514?skuId=1849348" target="_blank">Dusk Til Dawn</a>, an iridescent olive. I highly recommend these shadows if, like me, you have enough matte creams and brown for a lifetime, but still prefer the cost-effectiveness of a palette.</div>
abidinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16545929553778845667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395380783565201249.post-34658797317677424202017-04-15T04:00:00.000-07:002017-04-15T04:00:04.013-07:00Saturday Reading List<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFHwtwEq-D1ZCY4CZNqtOpcqm4QKGobhzu0TpETH4y2bqFUfI62CSvtkzSVtSaUYdH_f39BibUrzcWNLuUj3C633Ao2fseXRoezFiUQTsaKQFyupTWtok2OT-ufDPxM2u3ZfnY3ifpWw/s1600/54ff70d29936b-anythings-possible-de.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFHwtwEq-D1ZCY4CZNqtOpcqm4QKGobhzu0TpETH4y2bqFUfI62CSvtkzSVtSaUYdH_f39BibUrzcWNLuUj3C633Ao2fseXRoezFiUQTsaKQFyupTWtok2OT-ufDPxM2u3ZfnY3ifpWw/s640/54ff70d29936b-anythings-possible-de.jpg" width="498" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.manrepeller.com/2017/03/how-to-have-self-respect.html" target="_blank">You Can't Have Self-Love Without Self-Respect</a>: "Self-respect is helping someone in need when no one is there to witness it. Self-respect is enjoying the acquisition of knowledge, without others having to know that you know it. Self-respect is leaving the party when you’re tired, instead of staying up for everyone else."</div>
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A wonderfully (terribly?) <a href="https://www.the-pool.com/life/life-honestly/2017/13/megan-nolan-on-18-pound-sticks-and-money" target="_blank">relateable piece</a> about the shame of not having money and the stupid things we do to avoid feeling it. </div>
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Google's former "happiness guru" (eyeball roll, I know) on observing<a href="https://qz.com/818998/googles-former-happiness-guru-developed-a-three-second-brain-exercise-for-finding-joy/" target="_blank"> thin slices of joy</a> throughout the day as an exercise in becoming a happier person. </div>
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<a href="http://news.sky.com/story/real-animal-fur-sold-as-fake-on-british-high-street-10832370" target="_blank">Faux fur has been found to contain real fur</a> (from mink, rabbits, and even cats). "This is a problem in two ways. Firstly it's a problem for the animals who are suffering awful, deprived lives and excruciating deaths on fur farms and traps around the world to produce these products. And secondly, it's a problem for consumers, who are not being protected from unfair trading, who want to shop ethically and avoid the fur trade." </div>
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In local news, <a href="http://nashvillepublicradio.org/post/homeless-advocates-try-appease-woodbine-residents-fuming-over-tiny-home-project" target="_blank">Woodbine residents are protesting the planned tiny-home community </a>for the homeless that will be located on the property of Glencliff United Methodist. It's ... unsurprising, but awfully sad to read the comments made by those who live in the area. </div>
abidinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16545929553778845667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395380783565201249.post-74135998964421433662017-04-14T04:00:00.000-07:002017-04-17T08:21:51.019-07:00April Check-In & Small Goals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGBdBTv36lbs8V6GS-tjCmQoxPpMuBTGkPrqnofS98JRZbq-Y14Izt1IRJHeGPEnSCUu4v5hK9sRzOeedm5Vvgpu5AckvGzGNVo8R4UUpL_kGfmY3tE83_NU3AKzlko8ogSSgo4i9u7A/s1600/april.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rifle Paper Co. Constellations Wall Calendar april 2017" border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGBdBTv36lbs8V6GS-tjCmQoxPpMuBTGkPrqnofS98JRZbq-Y14Izt1IRJHeGPEnSCUu4v5hK9sRzOeedm5Vvgpu5AckvGzGNVo8R4UUpL_kGfmY3tE83_NU3AKzlko8ogSSgo4i9u7A/s640/april.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.writeslikeagirlblog.com/2017/04/april-small-goals.html" target="_blank">Inspired by Nicole at Writes Like a Girl</a></span></div>
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It's time again for my monthly check-in. You may notice that it's two weeks late, but I've been putting off writing this post because <i>frankly </i>my goals were a bust. That's hard to share! March was a rough month for balancing school and work, and then Mass Effect: Andromeda was released. I really tried to hone in and finish the game on my one week away from school, which put all my other interests to the wayside and yet I <i>still </i>haven't finished the game.<br />
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Here were my sad & unfulfilled small goals for March:<br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "crimson text" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>Read a chapter a night | </b>I fell off the wagon with this one. I began slipping because <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30256250-the-possessions" target="_blank">the book I was reading </a>was just eerie enough to make me uncomfortable in the evenings, so I stopped wanting to read it before bed, but I also didn't carve out time to read during the day. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "crimson text" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>Practice French every morning with my coffee | </b>I don't know <i>why </i>I failed so miserably at this one. I started off really strong, zipping through my DuoLingo courses and getting excited about Montreal, and then one morning I simply didn't do it. I rushed out the door (like, honestly, I do pretty often) and didn't think about French again. With DuoLingo, every time you miss a day you lose some of your skills (which is good because it will refresh what you may need more practice with) but I started to get overwhelmed and didn't pick it up again.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "crimson text" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>Go on a walk once a week | </b>I did this zero times, even with the beautiful weather. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "crimson text" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b>Watch one video for school every day | </b>I watched a few videos for school, but certainly not enough, and I didn't do a single THING for school during my measly spring break, which was not ideal. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "crimson text" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><b><strike>Wait 24 hours before making any purchase</strike> | </b>I actually did accomplish this, shockingly, and I feel great about it. I bought a few affordable Spring clothing items and I bought absolutely no makeup, so I'm pleased. I also thought this would be the most challenging of my small goals, but here I am. </span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "crimson text" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">It's disappointing to see so much left undone, but I also think maybe those were bigger goals then I thought they would be. Habit-making takes time and effort and it may be better to focus on one at a time, moving forward. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "crimson text" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">Part of what helped me so much with reigning in my purchases was<a href="http://callme-dina.blogspot.com/2017/04/how-to-know-your-makeup-obsession-has.html" target="_blank"> taking that inventory of all my products</a>. I still don't use everything I already have, so why am I compelled to go out and buy more? I know that I am a stress shopper, but <i>things </i>aren't bringing me any comfort. I'd much rather save for big purchases (a nice camera, plane tickets, or heck, Sansa's grooming). </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNJJWLDwspE-qRyMEIcvSjzWX2wiVFWp2Ilm3YSOEu3BeUyCPHwQNqxTjVypCfkR5q9EqnMmk3SloIkUBxsvNxydt9fUjeyFcsz2YOspvhAql0aDP3IyyB1PyG4B0Supi5WJcq64CJIw/s1600/IMG_6279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="affordable fashion finds for spring hello sunshine straw hat blush bow mules ban.do passport floral denim flats guess marble statement sunglasses" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNJJWLDwspE-qRyMEIcvSjzWX2wiVFWp2Ilm3YSOEu3BeUyCPHwQNqxTjVypCfkR5q9EqnMmk3SloIkUBxsvNxydt9fUjeyFcsz2YOspvhAql0aDP3IyyB1PyG4B0Supi5WJcq64CJIw/s640/IMG_6279.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "crimson text" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">For Spring, I've purchased a couple pairs of shoes, a kitschy sun hat, statement sunglasses (pictured above!), two off the shoulder dresses and a millenial pink windbreaker, so I feel good to go for warm weather wardrobe updates. I've started playing with eyeshadow shades I've been previously afraid of - like peaches and pinks - and have really liked the results. It's possible, or likely, that changing my hair from various cool pastel shades to a rich brown has affected my entire color palette. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "crimson text" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">So what <i>are </i>my April goals? It's almost nerve-wracking to decide. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "crimson text" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><u>April Small Goals</u></span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "crimson text" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">Work out 3 times | Three! Just three. <a href="http://class.ps/ejaOS" target="_blank">ClassPass </a>(use that link for $30 off your first month) is letting me take three classes for $10 in April ... to keep me from cancelling ... and I really want to take advantage of this, particularly since my favorite way to work out (Reformer Pilates) is <i>exceptionally </i>expensive. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "crimson text" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">No buy of clothes/makeup | Self-explanatory. I don't need it, it won't fulfill me, and if I love it enough to still love it in May, maybe I can buy it. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "crimson text" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">Watch my school videos | I pay $25 a month for <a href="http://referrals.trhou.se/abigailholder" target="_blank">Team Treehouse</a> (which I highly recommend) as a supplement to what I'm learning in class, so I need to find the time to actually utilize them. </span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "crimson text" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;">And that's it. Three goals for April, so that I can hone in on them and hopefully accomplish all three. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "crimson text" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><i>currently watching:</i> flipping between <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/bates_motel/" target="_blank">Bates Motel</a> and<a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/ripper_street/s01/" target="_blank"> Ripper Street</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "crimson text" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><i>currently reading: </i>also flipping between<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30256250-the-possessions" target="_blank"> The Possessions</a> and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9539.The_Shadow_Rising" target="_blank">The Shadow Rising</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "crimson text" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px;"><i>currently listening:</i> <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/7ITd48RbLVpUfheE7B86o2" target="_blank">The Decemberists whole discography</a> in preparation for their show at the Ryman</span></span></div>
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abidinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16545929553778845667noreply@blogger.com0