Twas the weekend before Christmas

Only five days until Santa shimmies down the chimney.  Can you stand it?  I'm happy to report among other things, I got a lot of my Christmas shopping done this weekend.  Hallelujah hollaback!

I kicked the weekend off by having dinner and drinks with my girly friends Liz and Stefanie Friday night at a deelish Italian restaurant.  It's safe to say I gained 10 lbs from this meal:

Eggplant parm, angel hair pasta with garlic, olive oil, fresh tomatoes and basil, pepperoni and black olive pizza and our drinks!

Holiday cheers to mah besties:

The lights outside the restaurant were so magical!  We picked the perfect place for a holiday din. Don't you think?

Saturday I got a lot of shopping done during the day.  One of the stores I hit up was Ulta, and I couldn't resist buying myself a little sumthin, sumthin: "Your Hut or Mine" from the essie resort collection 2011.  It was on sale for $5.99, so basically I took it as a sign from Santa to get myself an early Christmas gift.

It's hard to tell in the picture I took with my cell phone above, but the color has a really pretty shimmer to it:

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Essie is quickly becoming my favorite nail polish brand.  You seriously cannot beat the quality and color selection.

Sunday I picked my Mom up from the airport and brought her a Sonic diet cherry limeaide like I always do because she doesn't have Sonic by her in North Carolina.  I'm a good daughter, so I like to make her jealous with Sonic drink pics:

We went to lunch then did some more shopping.  I'm sure this will come as a shock, but I bought myself a few things that were on sale when we were at Old Navy.  This sports bra (on clearance) to wear around the house or to sleep in because it's a low impact bra. So. effing. comfortable. I want 100 more.

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And my new obsession?  Sleeping in over-sized flannel t-shirts. It's seriously the only thing I've slept in for the past few weeks.  Old navy has some that are long and I love them so I got another while I was there. It was on sale for $12.

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Try out big oversized button ups for lounging and sleeping.  Trust me, it will change your life.

Last but not least, Reese had his church Christmas play Sunday night.  Naturally, he took the sheep he was holding and sang with it on his head.  He is so my nephew:

Don't you just want to steal him?  I don't blame you.

To cap the weekend off, I did one of my favorite things: WRAPPED PRESENTS!!  For reals y'all, in a second life I'm coming back as a professional present wrapper.  I'm not saying I'm good at wrapping, I just love to do it.  This little lady is on her way to Greenville, SC for my boo Beth.

Last but not least, don't forget that it is still the 12 Days of Blogger Giveaways!  Head on over to Keep Calm and Carry On to see the awesome stuff Katie is giving away for the seventh day of Christmas.

DIY Makeup Brush Cleaning

  

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Let's talk DIY makeup brush cleaner, shall we? I’m sure most of you probably already know this, but maybe not. Legit makeup brush cleaners can get pricey, and cleaning your makeup brushes frequently is a necessity. I know it’s sick, but they harbor dirt, bacteria and skin oil. Barf. If you don’t keep them clean, they can lead to break-outs and a clumpy application. I know you don’t want that. Right?

A few years ago I bought a bottle of brush cleaner from Ulta and it was over $20 (what was I thinking?), so I looked on their Web site and these days Ulta's brush cleaners range from $11 to $30. I’m pretty sure you know I’m not paying $30 when I have a DIY system that will cost you less than $4. My bargain solution? Baby shampoo.

It’s gentle and will keep your brushes lasting for years, which is a great investment if I do say so myself. Look, I’m as lazy as the next girl, but the thought of spreading bacteria all over my skin makes me shiver. Here is my easy step-by-step guide to keeping your brushes soft and squeaky clean:

1. Run your brush under warm water

2. Work a small amount of baby shampoo into a lather

3. Rinse thoroughly and repeat as needed until water runs clear from brush. Try to keep your brush pointed down during this process.

4. Reshape and allow to dry on a clean towel.

[Do this process a minimum of once a week to all your brushes. Technically any liquid make-up brushes should be cleaned every day (um, yah right) and powder brushes can go a little longer between cleaning.]

Hope this helps. If you have any questions or additional tips, I'd love to hear them in the comments!

I'm leaving on a jet plane ...

Thursday morning I will be on a plane flying to Phoenix waving to ya from high in the sky! 

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Now that I'm close to boarding a plane, I've started to think about packing.  Keyword = think.  I never pack until the night before and I'm usually running errands and finishing up last minute stuff until midnight or later.  It never fails.

I thought I would share some of my favorite travel essentials with y'all.  I'm by no means a travel expert, but I was in a 4 year long distance relationship with Lucifer, so I spent my fair share of time traveling. 

Here is what I can't travel without:

1.  Check list and sticky notes. I'm a list person. I can't function without my to-lists and packing for a trip is no different. I make my list a few days before I need to pack, so if I do need to make any runs to say, CVS, I know ahead of time. If there is anything on my list that I can't pack until the day of (phone charger, tooth brush, sleep mask, etc.), then I write it really big on a sticky and put it on my front door so I absolutely can't forget it.  

This is just the start of my list, there will probably be 2 more pages of items added to this list.

2. Flat iron case.  I used to be ghetto and would just wrap my Chi in a hand towel.  This method works, but I eventually stepped my game up and bought this case.  I love it because you can do your finishing touches on your hair, throw your straightener in the case and not have to worry about it burning anything in your bag. 

My case above is from Stein Mart and was less than $10.

3. Jewelry Roll.  I also got this at Stein Mart for less than $10.  They have really cute, affordable travel accessories, so you should check it out if you have a Stein Mart in your area.

 
4. Personalized Luggage Tags to help you easily identify your bags.  My luggage tags were gifts, but lots of stores carry cute, girly luggage tags.  Get one to pimp your luggage.  

Don't mind the "heavy" tag, I always pack my bag to exactly 50 lbs thanks to my handy luggage scale.  See below!

5. Luggage Scale.  A lifesaver.  This little gadget lets me know if I've maxed out the 50 lb luggage limit.  Prior to owning this, I would be that girl at the check-in counter busting open my bag to take stuff out so I could get my luggage on the flight without having to pay the extra fee. 

You don't want to be that girl, trust me.  You will feel the glares of all the people waiting in line behind you trying to check-in.  If you tend to be a heavy packer, just get the luggage scale and thank me later.

While browsing Stein Mart online, I found a similar version called the Travelon Scale if you are interested.

6. Tan Towels.  Hello my fellow sunless tanners (everyone should be practicing safe sun and if not, you and I need to have a talk!).  You must have these tan towels in your luggage when you travel. 

They are perfect for maintaining your sunless tan when traveling.  The best part about them for me is that I don't have to worry about TSA throwing my precious bottle of self-tanner in the trash.  I give the worst side-eye and pout if I ever have to throw away any beauty products.

I bought mine at my tanning salon, but I know Ulta carries them too.  Click here to check them out.

7. Toiletries Hang Bag.  I got this one from my Aunt as a gift, and I don't know how I ever traveled with out one. 

8. Travel size bottles.  I think we all know what these are and that you can find them in pretty much any drugstore, Wal-mart or Target.  I used to never be able to find mine when I needed to pack, so I bought a container from the 99 Cent Only store to stash them in between trips.  I love that they are all in one place and I don't have to dig through drawers, cabinets or luggage trying to find them.

9. And lastly, get yourself a cute, medium sized carry-on bag.  I got this one at Sam Moon for any of you ladies in the Dallas area. 

There you have it!  Hopefully you learned a few tips, but if not, at least you know how I roll way up in the sky.

Where have you been all my life?

I've been sunless tanning for about 10 years now, so I like to consider myself a bit of an expert on the topic.  I thought I knew all there was to know about sunless tanning, but I was mistaken.  Case in point: the Ulta Sunless Mitt.  An invention of my dreams!  How have I gone 10 years without one of these?  

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Description: Applicator mitt easily smoothes self-tanning products onto the skin. The Self-Tanning Applicator Mitt by Ulta features a soft, velvet-like cloth cover that cushions the skin and an inner, water-resistant barrier to protect hands from becoming stained. Provides even, streak-free color. Hand-washable mitt can be used again and again.

I bought this mitt at Ulta last week for $4.99, and it has bit a bit of a life changer.  Around Christmas time, I cut back on a few unnecessary expenses.  One of these unnecessary expenses was my $49.99 a month Mystic Tanning membership.  It's a rough life, I know.

Since I stopped Mystic Tanning, I was content with embracing the pale.  That was until I saw some recent pictures  and I couldn't believe just how pale I was.  Sometimes all it takes is a photo to slap you in the face with reality.  I'm not trying to look like Snooki, but I would prefer to not look like a vamp. 

The problem is I've never been that fond of applying my self-tanner myself, but this mitt makes it a breeze.  Not only does it help you blend the color, but it protects your hands from turning that unsightly orange.  At only $4.99 (currently a "buy 2/get 2" special on Ulta.com), I will be purchasing a few more of these.  I don't know why I ever tried to apply mystic tanner without one of these magical mitts.

While I was at Ulta, I also decided to test out a new self-tanner.  After deliberating and standing in the sunless tanning product aisle for too long unable to make a decision, I finally made a gut decision and went with Hawaiian Tropic Island Radiance Creme Lotion Self Tanner in Medium Dark for $10.99 (used a 20 percent off coupon).

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I've gotta give it to my gut instinct, this self-tanner has been one of my favorites to date.  The best part for me is the odor is very minimal.  I don't ever think I've used a self-tanner with this pleasant of a scent (citrus, tanning oil scent) after the the chemical reaction took place between my skin and the key ingredient in sunless tanners — dihydroxyacetone (DHA).  It's impossible to not smell the chemical a little, that's just the nature of the beast.  I'd rather smell a little funky than get skin cancer or look like an old, wrinkly hag.  Right?

I also like the pump, it's much easier to dispense this product than having to shake and squeeze a typical lotion bottle. Because the mitt makes it so easy to evenly apply the lotion, I was streak-free after application.  I used the lotion 2 times last week and it gave me the perfect sun-kissed color for my fair skin.

I just used it again last night and I think to maintain I'll have to reapply 2 to 3 times a week.  I hate when self-tanner starts to come off and your skin looks splotchy, so I'm happy to report I haven't been asked yet by any strangers if I had a skin disease.  Oh yes, this happened to me standing in line for the merry-go-round with my nephew.  Here's how that went down:

Man standing behind me w/ his son: "Excuse me miss, I was just wondering if you had Vitiligo too?"

Me (confused): "I'm sorry, what was that?"

Man: "Do you have Vitiligo, the skin disease?  I noticed on your wrists that your hands were whiter than your arms.  I'm just asking because my son has it and i thought you did too."

Me (embarrassed): "No sir, just a blotched self-tanning job."

I couldn't believe that happened, but that is the story of my life.  Hopefully this mitt will mitigate strangers asking me if I  have a skin disease.   So far, so good.

My eye liner fixation

Yesterday I mentioned there is an eye liner I'm completely hooked on that I can't live without. I don't think I've ever consistently stuck to a beauty product like this and I can't think of a time it wasn't a staple in my make-up routine.

A few of you were anxious to hear what it was, so your wish is my command! The eyeliner I'm infatuated with is Ulta Automatic Eye Liner in Black:

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Why is it so great? Well, where do I begin?

1. The price. It's only $7, but I don't think I've ever paid full price. If I have paid full price, it's been during a "buy 2, get 2 free" type of promotion, so technically that isn't considered full price (at least not to me anyway). It will even go on sale for $1. One. Dollar. Seriously, it does not get any better than that. On top of the great price point, Ulta has coupons you can print off of their Web site at any time.   

2. All right, so other than the great price (it has to be for me to love it), my second favorite thing about this eye liner is how smooth it glides on. There is nothing I can't stand more than an eye liner that hurts to put on and pulls at your skin.  The easy application makes it a cinch to create a sharp, straight line.

3. The rich color.  It's hue is a deep black, similar to a liquid eye liner.  If you prefer a more subtle shade, they have several colors to choose from.  I can't vouch for any other colors because I don't deviate from black, but I'm sure they are just as amaze.  I can't imagine why they wouldn't be.

4. No messy sharpening required.  We're all busy girls.  We've got places to be and people to see.  The quicker we can get ready and out the door, the better.  You don't have to fuss with a sharpener when this eye liner gets dull.  A simple, tiny twist will do the trick and you're ready to apply.  

5. Last but not least, it is waterproof, which equals all-day staying power even with my oily complexion. Sometimes waterproof eye make-up can be a nightmare to remove, but my face wash is generally all I need to wash it off at the end of the day.  I rarely have to use any eye make-up remover.  I'm not saying that by 6 p.m. my eye liner looks exactly like I just applied it at 7:30 a.m., but practically.  It's as good as you're going to get in my opinion.

Are you sold?  I've been in a bind and had to resort to other brands of eye liners, but nothing has come close.  I've used Elizabeth Arden, MAC, Lancome, drugstore brands, etc. and they just don't do it for me.  Maybe I'm crazy, but I really think this is a product you'll love as much as me.  If you test it out for yourself, you'll have to let me know what you think.

Does your blonde get brassy?

It's been almost 7 months since my last highlight and my blonde is really starting to lose it's luster. My natural color is about a medium blonde, so fortunately for me (and my checking account), I'm able to wait this long between highlights. However, my natural color is certainly not as platinum as it used to be. Meet platinum me:
What I would give for hair that blonde. Sigh.

For a period of time during my senior year of high school, I started using ARTec White Violet Shampoo, which claimed to neutralize yellow and maintain brightness of pale blonde highlighted hair. I swear to you, every time I used the shampoo at least one person would ask me, "Did you just dye your hair?" I didn't really notice, but others always did. The ARTec was awesome in terms of getting rid of the brassiness that builds up on blondes overtime.

It dawned on me I should start using it again (not sure why I ever stopped), so off I went to Ulta to purchase this miracle in a bottle. I was scouring the hair care aisle when sadly I found out that they no longer carry it. Womp, womp. (After all, I guess that was 8 years ago.) I was able to find it online, but when I get it in my head that "I have to have it", I want it now.

A sales woman at Ulta recommended AG Hair Cosmetic's Sterling Silver Toning Shampoo:

The lady said it does the same exact thing as the ARTec. I side-eyed her and said, "Are you sure?" She promised me it would and added, "It's on sale for 12.99." Normally $36, I couldn't really pass this deal up. On top of the price slash, I had an Ulta $3.50 off any $10 purchase coupon, so my grand total for the 33.8 oz bottle was less than $10 before tax. Not bad.

It is yet to be known if this stuff actually works, but all the reviews online seem to be positive. I'll have to let you know how I like it after a couple washes. Wish me luck!