Blue and Green

Sorry for the super lame title.  I did this look the other day and didn't get around to re-sizing my pictures until today.

I wanted to do something kind of dramatic because my makeup has been quite boring.  I wanted to do something using a black base, I used to do looks all the time with a black base but since I got my Inglot eyeshadows I really haven't used the black base too much.  Here's the look I did

I used NYX "Black Bean" Jumbo eye pencil as a base.  The green is NYX Ultra Pearl Mania in "Jade."  And then I used NYX "Black" eyeshadow in the outer v and the blue is a mixture of Inglot 428 P (a pearly navy color), and NYX ultra pearl mania in "Ocean Blue."  I used Inglot DS 496 as my highlight color.  I used MAC "Myth" lipstick under NYX Megashine Lipgloss in "Crystal Soda" which is a sheer peach/pink color with sparkles in it.  

I think this look is just eh.  It's ok but I don't think I'd do it again.  Thank you so much for taking time out to check this out!  I hope you guys have a great day!

John Frieda "Go Blonder Controlled Lightening Spray" review and a personal update

When I got my Allure Beauty Box, there was a bottle of this John Frieda "Go Blonder Controlled Lightening Spray" in it.  I know a girl from MakeupGeek uses it so I asked her a what she thought of it and she says she loves it.  I had my hair dyed in the beginning of May and my regrowth was really starting to bother me so I figured it was a good time to test this stuff out.

What their website says about it:
"Versatile, patent-pending formula with citrus and chamomile works with styling heat to gradually lighten and brighten for a natural-looking, blonder blonde. Contains thermo-protectant. Patent-pending technology combines fixative and conditioning polymers that retain hydrogen peroxide, allowing for control of lightening. Visibly lightens in 3-5 uses."

So here's my hair before I washed it.  This is probably 4 weeks of regrowth

After one use:

After 3 uses:

As you can see, there's a visible difference between the before and 3 uses picture.  The product says to be used with heat so I didn't use this every time I washed my hair because I don't always blowdry my hair.  I have used it more times but my hair doesn't seem to be getting any lighter than the 3 uses picture.  

I think this product is great for dragging out the amount of time I can go between colorings.  Is it light enough for me?  No.  But it does a good job of making my regrowth way less noticeable.  I'd probably start using this around 3 weeks after a coloring and then do my regular hair color at about 6 weeks.  

I'm not sure how much this product costs as it came in my beauty box but I found it for $9.70 on amazon.com.  So would I buy this product?  Probably.  I'm not in love with it but I definitely like that after 7 weeks of not coloring my hair, it still doesn't look trashy (which it definitely would without this product).  

Now the next part of this post is going to be a personal update about the death of my nephew just in case you're not into the personal stuff.  

*Edit: Just so you know, so I don't feel like I'm lying, I have edited and deleted parts of this post.  Things from this post were taken out of context and flipped around and some things were too personal so I deleted them or edited them.*

Man oh man has this been one tough week.  I was in no way prepared for this.  I feel like I don't even know where to start.  Here's his obituary.

Asiah Maxam
His father's family put the obituary together.  My sister-in-law was upset that first of all, his middle name is incorrect (I guess he has too many kids to keep them all straight.  He has 7 children by 2 different women).  His middle name is actually Vincent.  She was also upset that my name wasn't in there next to my husband's and that his Uncle Alex wasn't mentioned either.

I was able to print out the pictures that I had of Asiah and give them to my sister-in-law.  We also got her a gold locket that has footprints on the front and on the back it says "it was then that I carried you" from that "Footprints" poem with a picture of him inside.  She cried and cried when I gave her the pictures.  The picture of her with Asiah is the only picture she has of the two of them.  It makes me so glad that I took it.

The funeral was on Friday morning.  It was awful.  Just as they had everyone sit to get the service started, the 2 1/2 year old ran up toward the front.  His dad grabbed him and picked him up to carry him to the back.  When he picked him up, he saw his baby brother and he started crying and reaching for him yelling, "But the baby!  The baby!"  It was HORRIBLE!  The most heart-wrenching thing I could ever imagine.

My mother-in-law I think is having a nervous breakdown.  She hasn't stopped crying and she keeps having convulsions.  She feels like she can't be in that house but because there's a rumor going around that they're going to kill Jamie as soon as she leaves (because the man who did this to her baby has a record of child molestation and they say she knew about it so they're calling her a baby killer), she feels like she can't leave.  So she definitely needs some prayer.  Please please pray for her.

We left last night and on the ride home, my husband called his mom to check on her and she told him how proud she is of him.  Which is something he's been waiting to hear for a long time.  She said, "I'm sorry I don't ever send anything to your Briana but I know that she's taken care of and these kids aren't.  Everything I have I give to these kids because I know yours has everything she needs."  She told him also that he's the kind of man she wishes she married because he stands behind his wife and daughter and provides everything we need.

But being home has been tough too.  When we were in New York we were running around and trying to be there for everyone else.  Being home, we've had a bit to sit still and think.  It's so so sad.  I'm so glad that someone invented waterproof mascara or this whole week would have been the biggest mess.

If you took time to read this whole thing, thank you.  I'm sorry.  I just needed to get some of this stuff out.  And I may have to vent some more on a later post.  This has been way too much.  He was a baby.  And he was murdered.  Who could kill someone who has no means of defense??  He's a sick, sick man.  He hasn't been charged with the murder yet and I'm not sure why seeing as they have DNA evidence against him.  And then I think about the boys again (who asked if they could come to our house with us) and it makes me want to cry.  I just can't handle it.  It's too much.

Hopefully I'll be able to get back to makeup posts soon.  I just really didn't wear much makeup this past week because I knew I'd just cry it off.  Thanks guys.  Thank you so much.

MIA. Quick update as to why

Hey guys, I know I said I'd try to be better on posting more and now I've gotten worse.  Well, I have a reason.  On Sunday night, my nephew, Asiah, who was 20 months old was killed.  It's my husband's sister's son.  So we're back in New York to be with her and the rest of the family. 

She has 5 kids with this guy who is hands down the WORST person I have ever met.  When they were together he was abusive to her and to the kids.  He has like 4 other children with other women, some kids are the same age as my sister-in-laws kids.  One time he had told my husband and I that he put a curse on us and that he worked for the devil, which in my head I thought 'good thing I have someone better on my side'.  The news here has made it appear that he's a good man which he is most definitely now.

It wasn't him who did it though, it was her new boyfriend.  He says that the baby fell out of his crib but the police have called it was homicide.  My sister-in-law wasn't home when it happened so she doesn't really know what happened.  Though she said to me that she believes him.

I just am asking you guys to think of us and pray for us in this time.  It's the worst thing you can imagine.  Pray for her other children too.  Thanks guys. 

Here's a link to what they said on the news about it.
UPDATED: Schenectady toddler's death ruled a homicide - News 10 WTEN: Albany, New York News, Weather, Sports

Two looks inspired by Fergie Ferg

I became a member on a website called "Beautylish" not too long ago when the MakeupGeek Forum was down.  It's a similar concept to MUG but it's not quite as active.  Well I had posted my Pam Anderson look and someone commented that I look like Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas.  That was something I'd never heard before (and don't really see, I wish though!) but while I was looking at pictures of her, I figured I'd do some makeup inspired by her.

In a lot of pictures, her makeup is pretty simple.  It looks like she wears a cream shadow, black liner, and false lashes.  So my first look was inspired by that.

This video is her "Glamorous" video and if you check her makeup out around the 42 second mark, that's kinda what I was going for.

I obviously went lighter on the liner and didn't do false lashes, but I wasn't trying to replicate it.  I used Revlon Illuminanace Cream Shadow as a base (over TFSI) and topped that with NYX Ultra Pearl Mania in "Mocha" and used Inglot 395 P for the highlight.  I do not recommend these Revlon Cream shadows at all.  They crease like nobody's business.  I don't have a problem with anything else creasing on me but this creased in like 20 seconds.  

And this is the second look I was inspired by. 

I thought the shape was interesting.  So here's what I did

Sorry for the terrible pictures.  I almost never remember to take pictures on the weekend when my husband is home but I did remember last minute and took these really quickly in the kitchen haha.  I look like a meanie here.  And again for this look, I wasn't trying to recreate her look, my look was just inspired by her look.  Haha and then once I was all done with my makeup, my daughter came inside with the mail holding my newest Allure magazine.  I'll bet you could never guess who's on the cover... yup, Fergie.  I thought that was funny.

Oh yeah, for this look I used.... umm... NYX "Black" eyeshadow, NYX ultra pearl mania in "Black", Inglot 376 (a grey color), and MAC "Blanc Type" on my highlight area.  I thought it was a fun look, I'd probably wear it again.  

I'm sorry I've been slacking on my posting, I'll try to be better.  I hope you all had a great Father's day and an amazing weekend!  Thank you all so much!!!

Bronze and Royal Blue

When I ordered from NYX, I saw this beautiful bright blue liquid liner and I was on a bit of a colored liner kick (which is not usually my thing) so I ordered it.  When I got it, I couldn't wait to use it.  I've used it probably 3 times now but I've forgotten to take pictures haha.  Here's what I did with it today

I did kind of a bronze smokey eye with the pop of blue on my lower lashline because I've been soooo boring with my makeup lately, I wanted something a smidge more dramatic (at least compared to what I've been doing haha).  And I decided I would do a tutorial on this look so here we go!

-First I applied my eye primer (Too Faced Shadow Insurance) and then I applied a thin layer of my MAC fluidline in "Rich Ground" to get a nice, bronzey base (clearly it does not need to be perfect haha)

-I then applied a warm orange/gold color on my lid (Inglot 307 P)

-I went in with a brown (Urban Decay's "Twice Baked") in the outer v area but I applied it with a fluffy brush so the dark color isn't too harsh

-I applied a skintone color under my brow down to the brown to help blend

-I applied just a little more brown and blended up a bit

-I filled in my brows (since I don't like to apply my highlight color without my brows being filled in) and applied MAC "Vanilla" pigment as my highlight

-I added a bit of Urban Decay's "Baked" eyeshadow which is a beautiful copper color above the brown and blended that up into the highlight area

-Add liner to the top lashline and to the waterline.  I used Bobbi Brown gel liner in "Black Ink"

-I don't want the liner to be too severe so I applied some of my dark brown shadow on top of the liner and I added a bit more to my outer v as well.

-And now for the blue on my lower lashline.  The brush on this particular liner is very flimsy so I applied a blob of color to my hand and dipped an angled liner brush into it and applied it with that

-The liner went on a little too dark for me so I applied a light layer of a similar eyeshadow color (for me that was Inglot AMC 70) and made the line a little softer 

-Now add mascara.  I used L'oreal Voluminous Carbon Black

And ta da!  You have a beautiful bronze smokey eye with a pop of royal blue!  Dramatic enough for me but not anything crazy.

I used the ELF blush/bronzer duo and NYX's "Peach" blush on my cheeks with MAC "Vanilla" pigment as my cheek highlight.  And I have MAC "Myth" lipstick under NYX Megashine Lipgloss in "Nude Pink" on my lips.

Here's some more pictures of the blue liner I used

The color is "Extreme Blue"

The brush compared to the Wet 'n Wild liquid liner brush.  The brushes are very similar: small and flimsy.

However, you can get a nice thin line with this.

I definitely like the liner.  When you get it wet, it doesn't run off, instead, it kinda flakes off in chunks.  I LOVE the color though and would definitely recommend it (I think I paid $3 for it???).  I just don't love the brush at all, it isn't stiff enough for me.  

I did almost this same look only with a black/grey smokey eye with this liner on the bottom and I really liked it.  I did wear it alone on my top lashline one day too and my husband really liked it on me.  I said to him, "It's weird.  I've been doing a lot more natural looks lately" and he said, "I like it better."  Well it stinks to be him because I'm definitely not sticking just with natural looks haha because I like my dramatic/bright looks too much to give them up!  Not that he wants me to but he prefers a more natural look.

I hope you all like this (even though I've done similar looks before)!  I want to thank you all again so much for all of your support!  I really appreciate you taking time out of your day to read this and to comment.  I'm so lucky that I have such a nice group of followers!  Thank you all sooo much!

The world's most simple look (no joke) and my niece's 1st birthday!

I cannot wear a lot of makeup when I am in the car for a long time.  If I wear too much eyeliner or mascara, it always ends up smudged all over my face and transferred all over my eyelid.  If I wear too much foundation, it's all spotty and rubbed off (especially if I try to sleep).  So I do what I can to make sure that I look pretty much the same after the 12 hour car ride to New York as I did when I started.  So this is what I did makeup wise before we left.

It's literally two eyeshadows (Ingot 351 M and 361 M) and Rich Ground MAC fluidline on my top lashline and mascara.  I used the Buxom lipgloss too.  That's it.  And I have to say that I did look the same when I got to NY.  My sister says this is one of her favorite looks.  I wanted to laugh because I don't even consider it a look haha.

Our visit was really nice.  My niece is one year old and it makes me a little sad.  Oh well, I guess they'll just have to have another child.  My parents put their house on the market so hopefully they'll be able to move here soon.  Here are a few pictures from my niece's party

too stinkin cute with her little crown on.  She hated it at first but when it came time for presents she forgot it was there and left it on

My kiddo with her Poppy.  She spent a lot of her time in NY like this.

There's my sister, her husband, and of course Miss Analiesa

My friend who I've been friends with since 1st grade (yes, I have had a friend for 20 years.  That's crazy) came to visit me.

We went out one night to celebrate my hubby's birthday which was interesting haha.  A couple of his friends came out and my cousin came too (her makeup looked awesome by the way but I didn't get to take pictures.  She kinda drew on little false lashes on the outer corner of her eyes with her liner, it was neat).  And here's me, my sister, and my husband's friend's wife (being totally hilarious and crazy).

And before we left I asked my sister to get a picture of me (I was going in the car again, hence the minimal makeup) with the baby since I don't have any and I love her so here those are

I look like I'm going to cry haha

So cute!!!

And I bet you guys will never guess what I came home with... 41 snapping turtle eggs.  Yup, that's right.  41.  Snapping turtle eggs.  My cousin came inside while I was baking cheesecake and he goes, "I found a snapping turtle and I think she's going to lay eggs"  Well dum dum me says, "Go tell John (my hubby)."  He went with my cousin, comes back and says, "He's right, she is."  So I went with them and this turtle is on the side of the road of a bridge laying eggs.  And since they were on a bridge the temperature wouldn't stay regulated well so of course my husband couldn't just leave them there to die.  So I have snapping turtle eggs in our incubator that will take 80 days to hatch as long as they're fertilized and survived the ride.

Mama snapper

you can see that she's on a bridge

the eggs

Oh to be the wife of a reptile (mainly lizard) lover.  Haha he's nuts.

I'm sorry it took me so long to post I've been exhausted and I really didn't have a chance to get on the computer while I was in NY.  I jumped on really quickly there but not long enough to do anything.  And that was my trip.  It was a really quick trip but it was nice.  Hopefully I'll be back posting more makeup tomorrow haha.  Thanks guys for checking this out!