face of the day - feeling good again!

Hello, lovelies! Thanks so much for the well wishes on my last post.  I'm feeling looooads better.  The only symptom left is a dry throat, which is nothing too traumatic! I'm just grateful it wasn't the flu - the flu is the worst! Anyways, I did my usual Sunday running around, and this is the makeup I wore.

FACE:

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua (B10)

Garnier Dark Circle roller

Dior Aurora

elf Heartbreaker cream blush

NARS Sex Appeal blush

The Balm Mary Lou-Manizer

EYES:

NARS Luster blush (yes, NARS blush can be used on eyes - I just learned this!)

NARS Lola Lola e/s, mixed with Laura Mercier Chocolate e/s

MAC Sand & Sun e/s (under brows)

Sephora Jumbo Liner in Beige (inner corners)

Maybelline Forest gel liner

MUFE Aqua Eyes 24L

MAC Lingering brow pencil

Benefit They're Real mascara

LIPS

MAC In Synch pencil

Elf conditioning balm in Peaceful Pink

NAILS:

Essie Topless & Barefoot w/Sephora by OPI Spark-tacular top coat

(please ignore my atrocious cuticles!!)

I wore Spark-tacular last week on my days off, too.  It's so pretty!

Essie Lovie Dovie w/Spark-tacular top coat <3

I purchased a few elf items recently.  I don't have much experience with them, aside from their lipsticks in Natural Nymph and Runway Pink, which I've had for about two years (I used to love them, but they don't get used much now).  The matte lip crayons piqued my interest, though, and when I saw the cream blushes, that was it! I had to have Heartbreaker. It looks CRAZY bright in the pan, but as with the YSL cream blushes (which this reminds me of!), it blends beautifully and doesn't look at all clown-ish.

I'm a lip balm junkie - especially when they're tinted! Peaceful Pink is a beautiful pale pink shade.  The only thing I dislike about it is that it smells/tastes of straight-up sunscreen! It has an SPF of 15, but that's not that crazy.  I just feel like I'm dabbing sunscreen on my lips, and while I like the smell actually, it's just a little odd for a lip balm. It also tingles a little.

Oh, one more thing which goes for both products, is that the packaging, while sleek-looking, is way too big and bulky.  For someone who already has too much makeup fighting for space, oversized packaging is not attractive!

Here's a closer look at the Maybelline liner (not from the same day). I love it!

Okay, that's all for tonight! I've got loads more to post about - tomorrow perhaps? ;)

Love you guys, and thanks for reading!

xoxo,

<3 Jess

blargh!

I just wanted to do a quick little update, because it's driving me crazy that I haven't posted in a week! I've been sick the past few days (I don't want to say flu, but I'm afraid it might be), and I just haven't had the energy to take photos or write or, well, do pretty much anything really! Hopefully I'll be feeling better by my weekend, but either way, I just wanted to say hello to you all, and hope you're having a great week - and that none of you are this hopelessly snifflysneezysleepyachyfeverish! (And if you are, get well soon!!) Sorry for the lack of pics - like I said, I just don't have the energy for anything right now!

One more thing -- I also want to wish my dad a happy birthday - he's the best! :)

And now I'm off to bed. Love you guys! Thanks for reading.

Be back soon, I hope!

xoxo,
<3 Jess

tax-free weekend haul (sephora, mac, b&bw, philosophy, etc.)

Hey, lovely people! I hope you're all having a fabulous Friday! Finally some sun shined through my window, and I was able to take swatch pics - hallelujah. :)  So, here is the damage from my little shopping outing last Saturday during Florida's tax-free weekend. I wasn't even planning on shopping, since I went shopping the weekend before, but my friend talked me into going to the mall with her - bad (yet so good!) idea!! I had also bought a couple of things at Old Navy, but returned them so I could get the big Slatkin & Co. candles you'll see below - what can I say, I'm just not much a clothes shopper! 

On with the goodies...

Tokidoki mini hairbrush & mirror (for my handbag - SO CUTE!), Smashbox Girls on Film blush rush in Pose (had to get this after my love affair w/Silhouette!), Sephora by OPI Spark-Tacular! top coat, Philosophy I Love Candy Corn (caramel candy corn) 3-in-1

Spark-Tacular! top coat over OPI Uh-Oh Roll Down the Window

Smashbox Pose (right) compared to Silhouette (left)

Silhouette (left), Pose (right)

  

Slatkin & Co. mini candles (3 for $5): Hot Chocolate, Cinnamon Sugared Donut, Autumn, Pumpkin Patch, Lavender Macaroons (smells like Stovetop stuffing, no joke!), Marshmallow Fireside

Bath & Body Works Lunch Box PB&J hand sanitizer gel (free w/coupon), C.O. Bigelow Lemon & Strawberry tinted lip balm (love the Lemon & Ginger so much, I had to have another!)

C.O. Bigelow Lemon & Strawberry tinted lip balm

Bath & Body Works Caramel Apple hand soap

Of the Slatkin & Co. mini candles, I had two massive favorites, which of course weren't available in store yet.  I went to the website and ordered these two (20% off - wish they were BOGO 50% off, though!). I was really impressed w/the shipping - they were at my door in two days!

Slatkin & Co. Hot Chocolate candle

Slatkin & Co. Cinnamon Sugared Donut candle

Philosophy Harvest Spice (pumpkin orange) body lotion - this smells amazing! I love anything pumpkin-scented. :)

Victoria's Secret Seductive Amber fragrance mist (bought 2 other things for gifts, which I'm not gonna show here!)

MAC Sheen Supreme lipsticks: Blossom Culture & Royal Azalea

Blossom Culture

Royal Azalea 

random goodies from Target - $5 Degrassi DVD (addicted to that show!), Que Bella chocolate face mask

Mouse was being very silly yesterday morning, so I thought I'd share these two pics of him, too - since I can't have a post with no kitty pics - that would be tragic!

he's the softest kitty in the world!

caught mid-yawn! (you can also see Sammy on the floor in the doorway if you look closely)

Mouse reminds me of Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon when he yawns...

<3 <3 <3

That's all for now.  See you soon!

Thanks for reading. :)

xoxo,

<3 Jess

a brown smoky eye, a thunderstorm, and kitties (as always)

So... this was totally an unplanned post.  I'd waaaanted my next post to be a haul or what's in my bag post, but I swear the weather is not on my side! It's been so cloudy and dark, and earlier today in particular there was a horrible storm (several tourists and employees at Sea World's Discovery Cove were struck by lightning!). This is Florida in the summer, my friends - if it's not 100 degrees and unbearable hot, it's pouring rain. I can't wait for fall (I'm a Chicago girl at heart!). :)

Anyways, I've done this same look the past two days, and despite the yuck weather, I was able to snap a few pics. And yes, I'm wearing the same top as in my last post - I just wanted to throw something on to run a few errands (like run to the post office, which ALSO was struck by lightning - crazy!!) before work.  Yada yada yada, enjoy!

FACE

Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation

Dior Aurora

Laura Mercier Canyon Sunset Cheek Melange

TheBalm Mary Lou-Manizer

EYES

UDPP in Sin

Laura Mercier Chocolate e/s

Nars Lola Lola e/s

MAC Sand & Sun e/s

MAC Dark Diversion fluidline

Milani Liquif'Eye pencil in Brown

MAC Lingering brow pencil

Maybelline The Falsies Flared mascara

LIPS

Tom Ford Blush Nude

And as always, a few more pictures of Sammy & Mouse. I was just informed that August 17th was Black Cat Appreciation Day - I definitely appreciate my little "smudgy pudgy" Mouse! :)

Sammy smiles when he's sleeping :)

Ever so curious about what I'm up to!

Mouse stalking my Fruity Pebbles (I let him lick the bowl when it's empty before I wash it - it's his favorite!)

Weather-permitting, I'll see you lovelies soon!

Thanks for reading. :)

xoxo,

<3 Jess

face, outfit, & nails of the day (& some busy kitties)

Hello, friends! It's tax-free weekend here in Orlando, and that makes this shopaholic one happy girl! My friend and I went shopping together on Saturday to take advantage (I'll show you what I picked up in my next post!). It's kind of my ritual to go shopping/browsing on Sunday, when I'm off work, and I'd even gotten my grocery shopping done Saturday, so I'd been thinking, "What will I do with my day now??" Well, of course, this morning I go to take my allergy pill, and it's the last one.  Oh, darn, another trip to Target? ;)

Anyways, the sun was out in full force when I went outside to take some face pics before I left -- it was brutal!! I just snapped these really quickly (I think I even had a brush/kitty hair on my nose!) and ran back inside. I'm not a summer girl! Needless to say, I wanted to keep the makeup simple. I'm really liking light makeup looks lately.  I find them easier to pull off when my hair is lighter, too - when my hair was dark, light makeup made me look even paler than I already am -  not good.

FACE 

Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation (my new HG foundation, no question!)

Dior Aurora

Chanel Bronze Rose (as blush)

TheBalm Mary Lou-Manizer

Garnier Anti-Dark Circle roller

EYES

UDPP in Sin

Buxom Stay-There shadow in Mutt

MAC Shadestick in Nurture (under eyes, in inner corners, and cupid's bow)

MAC Lingering brow pencil

FairyDrops Scandal Queen mascara

LIPS

MAC Blossom Culture sheen supreme lipstick

NAILS

OPI Uh-Oh Roll Down the Window (still cringing at that name)

TOP: Gap

SHORTS, BAG, NECKLACE: Target

FLATS: J.Crew

And I picked up something unexpected at Target...

(will be whipping out my Spanx for this!)

Next month, my parents will be celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary here in Orlando with my brother and me (and my birthday just happens to be in September, too), and I thought this dress would be a nice choice for when we all go to dinner together. :) I'm so excited for their visit!

I'll show you the rest of my tax-free shopping from Saturday in my next post, which should be up by Tuesday.

I can't go without sharing some pics of my little guys - I can't believe how quickly they're growing! As you can see, they've been very busy this week....

Donating to Goodwill...

Doing the laundry...

Doing the dishes...

Trying on shoes...

...and making me smile, of course :)

As always, thanks so much for reading! 

xoxo,

<3 Jess

my recent purchases (ulta, b&bw, chanel, aldo, target, anthro)

Hi ladies! I did a bit of shopping this past weekend... It was so much fun to let loose a bit, as funds have been tight lately, and I haven't been able to have a fun shopping weekend like this in a loooong time. Of course, I still didn't go crazy or anything, though, and I took advantage of coupons, as always! :D Coupons are a girl's best friend!

Enjoy! :)

ULTA:

($8.50 in coupons)

• John Frieda Go Blonder controlled lightening spray
• Garnier Skin Renew Anti-Dark Circle Roller
• OPI Uh-Oh Roll Down the Window (WORST NAIL POLISH NAME EVER!!)
• Smashbox Girls on Film blush rush in Silhouette
• Redken Guts10 (mini)

• Smashbox Doubletake Lip Color in Gossamer (Macy's)
• Royal Apothic Extract of Macaroon fragrance rollerball (Anthropologie)

Smashbox Doubletake Lip Color in Gossamer

Bath & Body Works:

(buy 2, get 1 free; $10 off total purchase)

• C.O. Bigelow Lemon & Ginger tinted lip balm
• C.O. Bigelow Mentha Supreme 2X lip shine
• C.O. Bigelow Mentha lip shine in Cinnamint

C.O. Bigelow Lemon & Ginger tinted lip balm

Bath & Body Works: 

($10 off total purchase)

• mini emery boards
• Apple Crumble home fragrance refill
• Caramel Apple home fragrance refill
• Fruit Punch pocketBac hand sanitizer
• Black Candy Apple mini body lotion
• Marshmallow anti-bacterial foaming hand soap

• Raccoon home fragrance plug-in cover (B&BW)

• Chanel Rouge Allure Desinvolte (Nordstrom Anniversary Sale exclusive - bought this last week, the very last day of the sale!)

• NYX Summer Love lipstick (Ulta)

• Feather earrings + studs set (Aldo)

wearing the feather earrings (and a goofy face)

• Merona leopard-print faux animal hair flats (Target)

Cosmetics swatched...

TOP: Chanel Desinvolte, C.O. Bigelow Lemon & Ginger tinted lip balm

MIDDLE: NYX Summer Love, Smasbox DoubleTake lip color in Gossamer lip liner side, Gossamer lip color side

BOTTOM: Smashbox Girls on Film blush rush in Silhouette

Of course, as always I had some assistance in the making of this post!

Mouse: "Okay, now you grab the other side, then we can make a run for it with the loot!"

Sammy: "Is there Chanel in there? I like Chanel..."

Both: "If we stare enough, she will acknowledge our cuteness with treats."

One more for the road!

Thanks for reading. Love you guys!

xoxo,

<3 Jess (and Sammy & Mouse!)