Monday, September 26, 2011

a big ol' birthday post feat. my mama & kitties!

Hello awesome readers! Sorry for the lack of posting the past almost-two-weeks, but as you are about to read/see, I've actually had a good excuse!

So, last Tuesday (the 20th) was my birthday, and my mama has been visiting me from Ohio since the 19th.  She and I have been having so much fun that I've hardly had the energy to blog! However, I have been taking loads of photos since she arrived.

The day she arrived we went to Perkins for brunch (I had french toast w/strawberries and bananas - YUM!), then of course headed to my place to drop off luggage and play with Mouse and Sammy. :) Later we went shopping, and to dinner at the Nordstrom Cafe.  That place is SO underappreciated.  I had the crab bisque, steak sandwich, and creme brulee, and every course was AMAZING. Our server was great, too. It was such a perfect day that I really feel like *that* was my birthday and not the following day!

On Tuesday, my actual birthday, we went to Epcot to explore the World Showcase (my favorite thing at Disney - especially the Mitsukoshi store in Japan! My 35% cast member discount is a HUGE plus at that place!!).  We'd hoped to have dinner at the Rose & Crown Pub in the UK pavillion, but it was fully booked, so we winded up at Macaroni Grill instead. Well, it's safe to say our dinner experience was a huge disappointment. The food was "eh" and the service was lacking, to say the least.  Mom was cracking up because I was wearing the birthday button I'd gotten at Epcot, and not once did the server ever say Happy Birthday! Maybe it's because I work in a restaurant myself (at Disney), and never will a person slip by unnoticed when wearing a birthday button, but still.  She never even really said hello or anything, just took our order and that was it.  She didn't even say goodbye to us when we walked past her out the door (and she looked at us).

As Mom noted, "We'll always remember this as the birthday dinner that sucked!"  We practically wet ourselves we were laughing so hard rehashing the story to Dad on the phone when we got back home, though, and that almost made the whole thing worth it! ;)

Anyways, I thought you might like to see some photos from my birthday (if you can believe it, we forgot to take photos at Epcot - oh well).  Enjoy!


me & my mama! <3


The makeup I wore on my birthday...


FACE

Bourjois Healthy Mix
Dior Aurora
YSL Creme de Blush #3
Dior Amber Diamond

EYES

Dior 3 Couleurs Smoky Khaki
MAC Tender Bisque (inner corners, brow highlight)
YSL cream eyeliner in Ashy Black
Laura Mercier caviar stick in Amethyst
MAC Lingering brow pencil
Benefit They're Real mascara

LIPS

NARS Barbarella




NAILS

Sephora Nail Patch Art in Chinese Blossom

I was also wearing this ring from Charming Charlie (which was a gift from Mom) - I love it sososo much! I love that it's a mouse. Every time I look at it I think of *my* Mouse! :)


The day-before-my-birthday birthday desserts from Nordstrom Cafe...


Creme Brulee (mine)


White Chocolate Bread Pudding (Mom's)

Some wonderful gifts... (sorry the pics, particularly the first one, are crap - I had to take them at night!)


  • Marc Jacobs Biscotti eau de toilette spray (I *love* this - and it was only $22.99 at TJ Maxx!)
  • Kira Imai postcards (Mitsukoshi)
  • MAC Pro Longwear lipstick in To the Future (Nordstrom, from the Styledriven collection; a nice peachy nude along the lines of Shy Girl)
  • MAC Pro Longwear lipglass in Patience, Please (Nordstrom, from Styledriven; I looove this gloss - it's so opaque and really lasts!)
  • Sonia Kashuk eyelash curler (Target)
  • Happy Birthday button (Epcot)
  • Deer pen (Mitsukoshi; push down on left ear for red ink, right for black!)
  • Macaroon erasers (Mitsukoshi)
  • Apple lip balm (Mitsukoshi)
  • La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo (Walgreens - I've been dying to try this; so far, I'm loving the results!)
  • YSL Rouge Pur Couture #6 (Nordstrom; this is my favorite lipstick - will be my 4th tube! I'm almost to the nub on my 3rd now)
  • NARS Barbarella lipstick (Sephora; love this shade - it reminds me of Jazzed by MAC)
  • Dior 3 Couleurs Smoky Khaki (Sephora) 
Oh, and that's my new bedding you're seeing as the backdrop! It's from the Shabby Chic line at Target, and it was also a gift from my lovely mama. My first bedding set ever was a rose pattern by Laura Ashley that I picked out myself (my mom still has it saved!). This set reminds me of that one. <3

a better view of the bedding (and yes, it really was 3:46 AM - I'm a night owl!)



  • Leopard print scarf (Chico's; this baby is HUGE and I LOVE it!)
  • Soft Blanket & Apple Cider candles (Yankee; we had a BOGO free coupon, plus they were BOGO 1/2 off - in other words, they were a total steal - and they both smell wonderful, of course)
  • Philosophy Tinsel Town 3-in-1 (Nordstrom; it's described as "crisp berry" - to me it smells like peppermint and winter berries. Yes, Christmas in September - I love it!)



...a closer look at To the Future lipstick and Patience, Please lipglass...



Patience, Please lipglass on left, To the Future lipstick on right


Philosophy Tinsel Town - shimmery goodness!

And the obligatory kitty pics before I go...


There's a reason I call him Sammy Snuggles...


He's snuggling with his grandma in that pic. :)


They really love the new comforter!


Mouse in his favorite box (I call it "the raft").

So, if you notice I'm not blogging or on Twitter as much as usual in the coming week that'll be because Mom is still visiting, and Dad and Little Bro will be along on Friday. I'm going to be a busy girl! In the meantime, I hope you enjoyed this post and are having a fantastic week! I'm so happy it's finally FALL! YAY! :D

As always, thanks for reading!

xoxo,
<3 Jess

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

fotd using the ysl midnight garden palette


FACE:

Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation
Dior Aurora bronzer
MAC Equilibrium blush
TheBalm Mary Lou-Manizer

EYES:

YSL Touche Eclat (under eyes)
UDPP in Sin
YSL Midnight Garden palette (darkened teal & red-purple shades)
MAC Sand & Sun e/s (under brows)
MAC Creamy Bisque e/s (inner corners)
MUFE Aqua Liner #11
MUFE Aqua Eyes 20L (waterline)
MAC Lingering brow pencil
Lancome Hypnose Drama mascara

LIPS:

Dolce & Gabbana lipstick in #49 Cinnamon






And the obligatory kitty pictures...


I think I need a second mousepad!






Thanks for reading!

xoxo,
<3 Jess

** I forgot, I also wanted to make a note that any comments containing a blog link will not be published. Remember, your avatar links to your profile, which links to your blog! I've had to delete quite a few comments lately because of this, and I hate to do it! #enddisclaimer **

Monday, September 12, 2011

what i've bought recently (lipstick, mac me over, sanrio, ysl, sleek, etc.)

I love the fall, and September especially -- it just happens to be my birthday month. :) I'm turning 28 this year (I can't believe it!) and my mama is coming to visit to celebrate with me.  I love spending time with my mom, so I'm really looking forward to seeing her.  It's also my parents' 40th wedding anniversary on October 2nd, and they decided to spend it here (Dad will coming towards the end of the visit). My brother and his girlfriend will be coming down for a few days as well. I love when my family gets together. I'm psyched for them to meet Sammy & Mouse, too! :)

Anyways, I've been taking photos over the past few weeks of the stuff I've bought, so I thought I'd share them with you!


Dolce & Gabbana Cinnamon
Tom Ford Nude Vanille
Topshop Pillow Talk
Sephora Lip Attitude Glamour G19
(scroll to the bottom of the post for lip swatches)

I had to put these at the top of the post, because I loveloveLOVE them! All of these, aside from the Sephora one which I tried on in-store first, were blind online purchases.  Sometimes that can turn out badly, but not this time! All of these lipsticks are likely to become favorites in my collection. I will say, though, that I was disappointed that when I received Tom Ford Nude Vanille; it broke the first time I applied it. It had melted during shipment, despite its sturdy case. :\ I'm going to exchange it, but I hope the same thing doesn't happen again (no stores near me have it in stock, so I have to do a mail-in return). *crosses fingers*


MAC Me Over

Creamy Bisque e/s
Mythical e/s
Seaside Cream Colour Base
Equilibrium blush
Midnight Blues fluidline

Midnight Blues fluidline in action...



Sleek Oh So Special palette
Sleek Storm palette
Sleek Pout Paint in Minx

Sleek Pout Paint in Minx



YSL Midnight Garden palette (so pretty it should be framed!!)

A FOTD using this palette will be up shortly - I wore it today and I love it just as much as I anticipated! :)


Moroccanoil Light
YSL Touche Eclat (#1 Luminous Radiance)

My original Moroccanoil bottle ran out recently, and I'd been using the Pureology serum in its place.  However, the other day I found the Moroccanoil bottle still in my cabinet, and managed to get some product out.  I'd forgotten how seriously amazing it is! It's pricey, which is why I didn't rush out to repurchase, but believe me, it is worth every penny! This time I picked the Light version, and I'm really happy with it!

The Touche Eclat is another HG product for me.  I'd been using the Garnier Anti-Dark Circle roller, but my eyes had been watering more than usual, and I wondered if I was sensitive to it. Either way, I was really missing that satisfying click of the Touche Eclat pen, and finally gave into the urge to splurge! I don't regret it one bit. ;)  And it didn't hurt that the SA threw in this adorable pouch as a freebie. :)


YSL cosmetics pouch (freebie!)


Revlon Starry Pink
Revlon Facets of Fuchsia (this one's for Mom, actually!)


Revlon Jaded Night


Tokyomilk French Kiss bon bon lotion


Philosophy Sugar Sprinkles Funnel Cake 3-in-1 (Sephora)
Philosophy Salt Water Taffy 3-in-1 (TJ Maxx)


Forever21 bunny pendant


Material Girl (Macy's) elephant pendant & bunny studs


Owl candle (Target - only $4.99!)

(totally unnecessary but so cute!)

Sanrio:

Charmmy Kitty notebook
Hello Kitty pastry cell phone charm
Sugarbunnies bag/paper clips
Hello Kitty key cover
Demeter Chococat cologne spray (smells like chocolate oranges) -10% off


The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Second Season (eBay - $19 shipped!)
Slatkin & Co. Cinnamon Sugared Donut wallflower
True Blue Spa Pumpkin Renewing Face Mask

The Vampire Diaries is one of my favorite shows, so you know I had to have the second season! I plan to re-watch the whole season before the third season premieres this Thursday. That's another thing I love about September -- all of my favorite shows are back on!

As promised, lip swatches!

Dolce & Gabbana Cinnamon

Tom Ford Nude Vanille

Topshop Pillow Talk

Sephora Lip Attitude Glamour G19

This post is so pic-heavy already, I'll just put in some Sammy & Mouse pics in the FOTD post I plan on putting up next.

As always, thanks so much for reading!

xoxo,
<3 Jess