Time to kiss and make-up

A couple of weeks ago I decided I need a little refresh.  I feel like I've been using the same make-up forever and needed to update a few things. 

As much as I love taking care of my skin, I really don't enjoy using make-up.  I think because I do take such good care of my skin, I don't have a lot of problem areas that need to be addressed or corrected (other than my "freckles" which have turned into dark/age spots over the years but I have learned to accept them.  And, of course, those fine lines around my eyes that have materialized over time!  I think they're called "laugh lines"?).  I drink a ton of water daily and take vitamins and try to eat lots of fruit and veggies.  I also use a 50 SPF lightweight sunscreen on my face.  I love to use different scrubs, masks, moisturizers and creams on my face and body but on the weekends I rarely wear make-up and during the week I wear the bare minimum.  I don't know how to contour, highlight or even how to do a smoky eye.  And I have never ever worn a pair of false eyelashes.  It's on my bucket list. 

I haven't been sleeping great and have noticed my under eye bags and dark circles have been a bit more pronounced so I headed to my local Ulta (I'm usually a Sephora girl but Ulta is the closest to my house).  I looked around a bit when I first walked into the store and realized I was out of my league and needed a professional!  Thankfully, the sales associate was very, very helpful.  I explained I don't want a heavy look but rather something on the more natural side.  She said, "ok...so...like you only better?"  Exactly!

I told her I needed a concealer but didn't want anything heavy or difficult to blend.  We tried a couple of different options but ultimately decided on the Smashbox Studio Skin 24-hour waterproof concealer.  I really liked the consistency and rather than use the spongy applicator, I bought a new small make-up brush to really blend it in exactly where I need it most.

The sales associate used an Urban Decay loose powder on me but it was out of stock so she suggested I try the It Cosmetics Bye-Bye Pores loose powder as an alternate. 

 

I very rarely wear any type of lip color but when I do I wear neutrals.  I love the Sugar Lip Tint by Fresh in either Rose or Honey.  But, in an effort to up my game, I decided to try a new lip kit from Ulta Beauty which has some different shades and finishes to mix and match.  

I'm still using a BB cream as my foundation.  It's lightweight and I feel like I'm not wearing any make-up at all.  I use a couple of different eye shadow palettes (again, all very neutral)...Urban Decay Naked 2 is a classic in my house and I also like the Maybelline Nudes palettes.  I finish off my eyes with this Maybelline mascara and a little bit of brown eye liner along the upper lash line. 

 

 



Here Come the Boom !

Had such a great day yesterday!  The weather was absolutely spectacular!  It was almost 95 degrees here with nothing but beautiful, blue, clear skies.
 
I had an appointment to pick-up my new contacts (prescription is still not right so I came home wearing my regular ol' glasses), got a pedicure, ran some errands, got a haircut, spent some time in Ulta, picked up a few things at Trader Joe's and bought a bottle of my new favorite wine at World Market (liquor laws are so weird here -- no beer or wine in grocery stores yet the World Market in Rockville carries wine.  The Trader Joe's a couple of doors down does not).

Last night KJ's travel vball team had their end of year party and celebrated w/ a Dads vs. Daughters game.  The dads were too funny and did all the cheers and A.C.E. things the girls do.  The moms visited with each other and it was very nice for me to chat and get to know some of the moms a little better.  As a matter of fact, a couple of the moms are going to a boot camp tomorrow night as a group.  Should be interesting!

I had a wonderful Mother's Day even though it was spent in the gym.  KJ had her very last volleyball tournament Sunday and did great as always.  She had to be on the court at 7:15 AM and the gym was almost an hour from our house.  Who does that?  Who schedules a volleyball tournament on Mother's Day?  KJ gave me two beautiful Alex and Ani bangles http://www.alexandani.com and T sent me an "I love you" charm necklace with my initial on a small disc.  My sweet Godson sent me a beautiful basket of flowers to brighten my day, too!

Nothing major planned for this weekend.  The pool guys opened up our pool today so I think we'll just hang around and do some yard work.  I need to wash all of my summer plastic table ware so we can dine al fresco.  We need to get our patio seat cushions out of storage and set what kind of condition they are in.  May have to buy new ones.

Whew!!

Had a fun but extremely exhausting day w/ Daughter #2 today.  I was just planning to have a little "me" ("little me"??) time running some errands and then she asked if she could tag along. 

We ran down to Hobby Lobby which was a total bust because I always forget it's closed on Sundays.  Good for them but major inconvenience for me!  My dad was in retail for 40+ years and as kids, my bother and I HATED when our dad had to work Sundays or holidays.  I really do think it's great when a company closes it's doors to allow associates to be with their families (a la Chick Fil A).  When I was growing up, certain NJ counties had blue laws -- no retail stores open on Sunday.  So, if you were dying to go Paramus you had to get your act together and leave the house crazy early on Saturday (also, no tax on necessities in NJ:  clothing, medication, etc.).  PLUS you don't have to pump your own gas and touch those nasty gas pumps!!!  But I digress. 

We re-grouped and headed over to Bed Bath and Beyond to pick up some stuff for T.  Got everything on our list (and then some)  and set our sights for Michael's.  Bought a nice frame for T's cap & gown photo and some miscellaneous other stuff.  But forgot the spray adhesive and mod podge. 

And then, God help me, we went back to school jean shopping.  I could go into graphic detail about all the other things I'd rather do than go school shopping with KJ.  I would rather walk on glass, I would rather eat glass, I would rather watch an episode of Glee than go clothes shopping with KJ.  Get the picture?  One of us always ends up crying.  However, today was a very successful day!  She walked out of the store with THREE pairs of jeans!  Whoop!  Whoop!  I know it's very early to start thinking about back to school clothes but we totally lose a week this year w/ Disney at the end of the month and she'll have vball practice before school starts and I refuse to hit the mall on tax-free day. 

After clothes shopping we headed over to DSW.  I have a bridal shower/bachelorette party next weekend and my dress is very, very plain black and I want to dress it up with silver strappy sandals.  I have silvery greyish pumps that I wore to my cousin's wedding but they will look all wrong with this dress.  This LBD really needed some sexy strappy heels.  I also had a $10 DSW coupon.  Score!

Then we hit Ulta.  T's "little sis" from last year's DYW pageant is participating this year and I wanted to put together an encouragement gift bag for her.  We focused on things she may need in the dressing room in between segments . . . clear lip gloss, aspirin, q-tips for make-up touch-ups, blotting papers, pony tail holders for blonde hair, and one of those pretty acrylic cups with a lid and a straw to hydrate!  Oh and I bought her a small mirror which I bedazzled the heck out of when I got home! 

Then, things got a little weird.  KJ & I walked over to the Christmas Tree Shop.  I had only been in there once before.  Somehow I walked out of the Christmas Tree Shop with hairspray and body wash and happy birthday paper plates to take to the office.  Not a freakin' Christmas tree in sight.  That is the weirdest store on the planet!!!

On the way home, we stopped in on some friends that we hadn't seen since the end of lax season and played catch-up.  They've got some good, fun, exciting stuff about to happen and we are all SO excited for them!  They are a good husband and wife team, they have great kids and after talking to them and seeing the fruits of their labor, I really do believe that when a door closes . . .