BOO! it's october favorites time! beauty, books, barbie, etc.

Hello lovelies! Happy Halloween to you all. :) Sorry for my absence the last two weeks or so.  To be honest, work's been very stressful and when I'm home, I just want to sleep! I have sooo many photos ready for posts I have yet to do, it's overwhelming! I have a Lush haul, new lipsticks post, makeup storage post, what's in my bag post, updated skincare routine, etc. If there's one you'd particularly like to see first, please let me know!

Anyways, as it's the very last day of October and all, I thought I'd go ahead and post my October Favorites - some of which I haven't gotten around to posting about until now, ack! 

• Love & Beauty Cream Cheek Color in Pink & Coral (Forever21)
• MAC Ice Cream Cake nail polish
• OPI Rainbow Connection nail polish
• Bare Escentuals Round the Clock waterproof eyeliner in 5 PM
• MAC Let's Skate paint pot
• Lush Day of the Dead fragrance
• Benefit Watt's Up
• YSL Volupte Sheer Candy in #9 Cool Guava and #10 Tangy Mandarina
• Crabtree & Evelyn Pomegranate body lotion (I use this as a hand cream)
• Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Creamsicle
• MAC lipstick in Patisserie
• Smith's Strawberry lip balm (HG material!)

the lipsticks: Patisserie, Creamsicle, Cool Guava, & Tangy Mandarina

swatched in the same order (top to bottom)

MAC Patisserie

Revlon Creamsicle

You can see me wearing YSL Volupte Sheer Candy in Cool Guava and Tangy Mandarina here.

Benefit Watt's Up, Love & Beauty Pink, Love & Beauty Coral

Benefit Watts Up, Love & Beauty Pink, Love & Beauty Coral (blended)

I meant to take lip swatches with the Love & Beauty cream blushes, too, as they actually work REALLY well on lips, too! However, I forgot. If you'd like to see lip swatches, please let me know, and I'll add them into this post later.

• Chanel Beige Lame
• NARS Lola Lola
• Chanel Tweed Brun Rose blush

swatched in the same order

MAC Let's Skate paint pot on its own (top)

Chanel Beige Lame over Let's Skate paint pot

• Tokidoki x Barbie tote 

I do have a Barbie collection, and I was thinking of asking for the Tokidoki Barbie doll for Christmas (should've bought it then, but I wasn't expecting it to sell out so quickly!), but when I saw that there were other products in the collection, I was like a giddy schoolgirl! I *had* to have this tote. I bought it from Tokidoki.it (Tokidoki's official website) and it came with a bunch of Tokidoki stickers and two massive Tokidoki catalogs, too, which I loved looking through. Not sure if I'll actually ever *use* this tote (I don't want to ruin the lining!), but I love looking at it displayed in my room!

the lining is what really sold me -- LOVE. IT!

As for what I've read this month...

Let's just say it wasn't the most uplifting reading month.  I know some of you may already know about Jaycee Dugard from the news or what-have-you, but the news can't begin to cover her story as she tells it in her memoir. I read A Stolen Life in one sitting (I was up until 8 AM reading it!). It just completely destroyed me - the fact that this is nonfiction, that all these things really happened to her. I couldn't handle it. It's not the type of book that you can just read a chapter of and then go off and do something else. The more I read, the more I thought, "Okay, I have to get to the end.  I have to see things get better for her."  And, I'm not kidding, I had a nightmare after reading it, and continue to think about it every day. 

I know you might be thinking, "Well, there's something I'm NOT going to read," but even though this really shook me up emotionally (I cringed, squirmed, cried, etc.), it was absolutely worth the read. It opened my eyes to things in the world that maybe I didn't want to acknowledge, but now I feel stronger because of it.  If you still don't want to read it, but you're interested in her story (as told by others instead of by her), you can always Google "Jaycee Dugard" -- but be warned, what comes up may upset you just as much.

I've had Room on my bookshelf since it first was released, but I hadn't been up to reading it.  However, I thought, "if I can get through A Stolen Life, I can get through Room." Room is another story of abduction, albeit a very different one. It's fiction, and it's told by Jack, the five-year-old son of "Ma," who was kidnapped at age 19. Both live in a shed in the backyard of her abductor. Having it told in the boy's perspective is what made it so interesting to me.  I'll say this, though, the middle of the book was the best part, and the last hundred pages kind of dragged on in comparison.  

Room was a good read, and I'd definitely recommend it, but if you're choosing between Room and A Stolen Life, I'd go for the latter, without question.

What I'm loving on TV right now:

• The Vampire Diaries
• Once Upon a Time
• Ringer
• Modern Family
• Happy Endings

my Halloween NOTD, using Sally Hansen Nail Polish Strips :)

Of course I can't leave you without some kitty photos!

All aboard the kitty train!

Look at how I found them sleeping the other night!!

Surprise!

You can't read your Sephora holiday catalog until you give me treats!

As always, thanks so much for reading (seriously, as I type this I'm at 399 followers - I'm FLOORED! Thank you guys!).

Hope you all have a safe and unhealthy (duh!) Halloween! See you soon! :)

xoxo,

<3 Jess & her silly kitties

it's that time again....

Hey ladies! My funds are crying big fat broke tears after the shopping I've done this past month. Why oh why do all the most gorgeous things have to be released at once? I also just love, love, love spring and love to break out my maxi dresses, sandals, and work lighter makeup, brighter lips, and messy hair. I'm really loving all the new gloss balm-type products that have come out lately, too! I feel like all I've been wearing lately are my Chanel Rouge Coco Shines, YSL Volupte Sheer Candy, and 17 Mirrorshine in Beehive! Really want to try the new Dior Addict line, too... but for now, I'm staying away, for my and my wallet's safety!!

Anyways, on with the haul!

Soleil Tan de Chanel in Bronze Rose, Diorskin Nude Healthy Glow powder in Aurora

Dior Aurora - so insanely pretty!

When I saw the blogger frenzy over the Dior Aurora powder, I knew I had to have it - a bronzer suitable for fair skintones that doesn't run orange? I'm in!

But why, why, did Chanel have to come out with their stunning Bronze Rose Soleil Tan powder just days later? It's also a great buy for fair-skinned girls, and like Dior's Aurora, is a multi-purpose product - it's basically a bronzer, blush, and setting powder in one.  Even though these were NOT bargain buys by any means, sometimes you do get what you pay for, and these were definitely worth it for me. I've been using them both nonstop since their arrival. I can't sing their praises enough!

Sephora Jumbo Liner pencil in 05 Beige, Smashbox Limitless Liquid Liner Pen (black), Sephora by OPI Once a Cheetah Always a Cheetah nail polish, Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm (BB cream)

The Sephora Jumbo liner in Beige is a total dupe for Urban Decay's 24/7 Shadow Pencil in Sin, but leaning more beige (duh) than pink. I've really been loving it as a liner on the lower lashline and in the inner corners.

My MAC Superslick liner has been on my nerves lately, and I've been wanting to repurchase my old beloved Smashbox liner pen, but every time I'd go to Ulta or Sephora, they'd be sold out! Needless to say, when I finally saw one on the shelf, I snatched it up!

The Once a Cheetah polish was an impulse buy - it was so stunning on the display! I was a little disappointed in how sheer and unevenly it applied, though.  Really pretty, but maybe this one's a better-on-the-toes polish.

I've been wanting to try a BB cream for AGES, and when I heard Sephora was going to be carrying two of them by Dr. Jart+, I wanted to go check them out.  I preferred the Water Fuse+, as it has pretty decent coverage and a dewy finish. I plan to use this on it's-too-hot-for-makeup days this summer!

Sephora by OPI ...Always a Cheetah nail polish (it matched a car! haha)

got2b POWDER'ful Volumizing Styling Powder, Macadamia Healing Oil Spray, Urban Decay Melt Down Makeup Remover

I wanted to try got2B's new powder-to-paste styling product, as I really love Aveda's Pure Abundance Hair Potion but I never repurchased because it's super pricey ($24 compared to got2B's $6). I still think Aveda's version is better at creating lasting volume, though. Oh well!

The Macadamia Healing Oil spray is similar to Moroccanoil in that it's supposed to make hair smooth and shiny.  I also think it smells amazing! It has better ingredients (and a better applicator, no greasy hands!) than Moroccanoil, but I still prefer the latter's results (and scent!). I wish I could find a suitable replacement - I hate the silicones in Moroccanoil - they irritate my skin! I can't complain about the Macadamia spray, though, especially since I got it for 50% off at CVS - steal!

The Urban Decay Melt Down Makeup Remover was definitely an impulse buy - I went to Ulta for a box of hair color and saw a display of new Urban Decay products, and here we are! It's too pricey, in my opinion, but I LOVE that it's a light cream consistency as opposed to an oil, balm, or liquid. It also smells really nice. I think makeup remover wipes are still the way to go for quick and thorough makeup removal, but this is still a fun product to try.

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Chance, Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua foundation (B10)

I love, love, LOVE Chanel's new Rouge Coco Shine range.  I love Evasion so much and, dare I say, I think I love Chance even more.  It's the most beautiful creamy pale pink that looks great alone or with a gloss on top (a coral-y shade is my choice - Chanel's Rouge Extrait de Gloss in Genie is perfect!). It doesn't settle into lines or gunk up between your lips with time/wear, and the packaging is perfect for me to slip in my pocket at work.

And while I raved about Clinique's Moisture Surge TM, I thought it might be the culprit behind a recent breakout, so I jumped at the opportunity to try something new, and I'm SO GLAD I did.  I really think Chanel's Vitalumiere Aqua could be my new HG foundation.  It is just awesome! It looks so natural, while still giving great coverage for my redness and blemishes. It has SPF and a light scent, but no breakouts in sight! You definitely need to shake this one up before using, and I prefer to apply it with a brush for more coverage.  I love the compact packaging and squeeze bottle, too.  This is my first ever go at a Chanel foundation, and it was definitely a smart move! It also does not make me super oily mid-day or vanish around my t-zone, which was my fear, as I know that happened with my friend Tiffany (WillWorkforMakeup). I recommend getting a sample before committing to any foundation, and this is no different.  What works for one person may not work for you, and vice versa!

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Chance

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Chance

Chance w/Chanel Genial Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss on top - my current fave combo

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua (B10), Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm (no shade)

Despite what it looks like from the photo (they're not fully blended), these both are great matches for my skin tone.  The BB cream is more of a tinted moisturizer, but I find it has more coverage than Origins Vitazing (my go-to TM).

Calypso St. Barth for Target tea/votive glasses

Calypso St. Barth for Target tea/votive glasses

...just so you can see how they're displayed in my home...

Miss Trish of Capri for Target sandals (Jaguar decals - love!)

YSL Volupte Sheer Candy in 02 Papaya

YSL Volupte Sheer Candy in 02 Dewy Papaya

Sephora Too Faced VIB beauty gift (includes eyeshadow palette and Shadow Insurance primer), NARS Dogon eyeshadow duo, NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Bolero, LORAC Front of the Line PRO liquid liner pen, Korres Lip Butter Glaze in Jasmine, OPI Silver Shatter nail polish, Illamasqua Tremble blush

Korres Lip Butter Glaze in Jasmine, YSL Volupte Sheer Candy in Papaya, NARS Bolero lip pencil, NARS Dogon eyeshadow duo, Illamasqua Tremble blush (pardon my scar!)

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Bolero

Korres Lip Butter Glaze in Jasmine

I wanted to compare the Korres Lip Butter Glaze in Jasmine to my Clarins Lip Perfector (shade 03) because I found them to be similar in appearance (on the lips, that is), texture, and flavor/scent. The Clarins is a bit lighter in color and the Korres is a bit thicker, but I still think they could be dupes!

for comparison's sake, Clarins Natural Lip Perfector 03

Clarins Lip Perfector 03, Korres Lip Butter Glaze in Jasmine

Eshu Skin Assist face scrub, B&BW Vanilla Pistachio antibacterial hand soap, Yes to Blueberries Age Refresh Brightening facial towelettes

The Eshu Skin Assist face scrub is actually a men's skincare product, but I got a sample from Sephora and was IN LOVE - the sample didn't specify it was for men! I'm just going to use it very sparingly, as men's face scrubs tend to be harsher than those targeted at women.  Its main ingredient is walnut shells, and it has a really nice eucalyptus/mint/menthol scent (menthol is far down on the ingredients list, and so far my skin has not been irritated by it).

The Vanilla Pistachio soap smells AMAZING - reminds me of pistachio macarons, yum! The best part is it was on sale for $2.50 - I wish I'd bought two!

I was buying the OPI Silver Shatter at Ulta and wanted to get my purchase past $10 - I had a $5 off $10 coupon - and I've since been liking the Yes to Blueberries serum quite a bit, I decided to try the facial towelettes. First off I will say the scents of the two products are completely different. Both smell great, but the serum is kind of a nutmeg/vanilla scent, while the towelettes are very fruity.  I like them so far, but the Neutrogena's makeup remover wipes are still the best, in my opinion.

Just for fun, what I've been reading this past month :)

I love a good book! I'm almost done with The Peach Keeper, about a third of the way into The Adults, and I just got Summer and the City and can't wait to dive in. Gotta finish The Peach Keeper first, though!

*sigh* Can it just stay spring through September? I hate Florida summers - too darn hot! :P

Anyways, I hope you've all been having a great May! I'm sure I'll see you lovelies soon. :)

Thanks for reading!

xoxo,

<3 Jess

what i got for christmas (from others + myself!)

Hey guys! I've missed you!!

This Christmas was awesome, but it went by too quickly! My parents came to stay with me for two weeks (they left last Monday), and my brother was here for a few days as well.  I also worked LOADS, as Thanksgiving through New Year's is the busiest time of the year at Disney.  So, when I wasn't working, I was spending time with my family, and vice versa.  I decided to just take a little break from blogging the past few weeks.  I was still reading everyone else's, though!

I think it's so much fun to see what other people got for Christmas, so I thought I'd share some of my favorite gifts as well.

The biggest gift isn't pictured here - but I'm sure you'll see it in the mirror when I take outfit pics soon (lol) - I got a new phone! I got a Samsung Fascinate, which is basically Verizon's answer to the iPhone.  I *love* it.  The best part is that it takes amazing pictures and video, and I can stalk Twitter and Facebook! ;)

Anyways, on to the haul!

Harajuku Lovers Wicked Style: Baby, D&G The One, 

Barbie & the Rockers Hallmark ornament, 

NARS Etrusque e/s, Charming Charlie fox ring, 

YSL Touche Eclat & Metallic Colorama highlighter,

Target and Barnes & Noble gift cards

far left: UO nail set, Aldo wallet,

far right: cupcake calendar, Mod Cloth tree ornament, Lindor truffles (from a work friend),

handpainted(!) Hershey bar (from my neighbors)

Lots of new reads! (The Lying Game and Revolution I bought for myself)

Jingle All the Way interactive storybook w/Jingle doggy plush

Juicy Couture cosmetic bag set (from my brother!)

Tokidoki Robbery palette

Dal Dotori doll (I love love love her!)

Aveda Scalp Benefits shampoo & Dry Remedy conditioner,

The Body Shop Raspberry Ripple body wash & Watermelon lotion (these are YUM, and were only $3 each!)

Hello Kitty & Yorkshire Terrier re-ment figures, Kiwi Koala figure (random cuteness!)

I did a little after-Christmas makeup hauling (new MAC collections, drugstore items, and a very special something from Chanel) and got a few new clothing-type things, but I'm going to post about that separately.  Be back soon!  

xoxo,

<3 Jess