Continuing the Beginning

This evening was just one of those good, good evenings. My day didn't start out wonderfully, as my car was frozen over with ice (yay!) and I was running late because I had to run inside and get more layers of clothing (double yay!) and missed my train by about a good minute (dare we say triple yay?). But the rest of the day went pretty well, I'd say, and it culminated in me heading to the climbing gym, which I love to go to! (I think I'll talk about that more in another post). I go there 2-3 times per week if I can, and tonight I did some bouldering and some top-roping, and I did some routes that I didn't think I'd be able to finish because I was just so damn tired. I'm really trying to take charge of things in my life, though, so I made myself finish, and I'm pretty proud :)

This past weekend my friend Tiffany and I did a fun little amateur photo shoot in her backyard. She's got this nifty bridge over a koi pond -- perfect for pictures and perfect if you feel like having some zen time. It was kinda cold outside, and more than a bit windy, but we managed ;)

Sans white peacoat!

I opted for cozy-cute on this particular day. It was about 60-65 degrees F, and with these clothes on I was still a little cold!

I'm wearing:

• Cropped white peacoat: H&M
• Warm grey cardigan: Charlotte Russe
• Inner navy/grey cardigan: Nordstrom
• Top: American Eagle
• Jeans: Gap
• Shoes: comfy comfy comfy Minnetonka moccasins :D

There's something really interesting going on over there, I swurr

The cropped white peacoat is one of my favorite pieces of clothing! I got it on sale at a grand opening of H&M for the ridonkulous price of $10 (!!!) and I later saw it going for something like $40. I'll take my deal and leave, thanks!

The Minnetonkas are total win. They were a bit of a pain to break in, as they were really stiff suede, but now they feel so dang good on my feet. It's too bad I can't really wear them year-round -- these would be a no-no in the rain.

Wait for it....

Because when are jumping pictures NOT fun? :D

Check my mad (mini) hops. Ish. Sorta. 

Hee!

I look like I'm being beamed up into a spaceship. For real.

It's getting to be about that time of the night for me to (ideally) go to bed. Over and out and until next time :)

(We Wish) It's Always Sunny in California.

I thought I'd try out taking pictures in my car on a sunny November morning a few days ago, which is not something I do often, and which is, believe it or not, something that doesn't really happen all the time in this part of California.  I imagine that if any of my neighbors had walked by they would have been supremely weirded out.  But no one did, so I'm in the clear, unless... any of them happens to read this blog? ...don't judge me, neighbors.

Why so serious?

Why so serious(ly weird)?

On normal days (i.e. weekdays) my morning routine consists of snoozing my alarm for about 20 minutes, then dragging myself out from under the covers to start my day.  (What can I say, I loves me my sleep).  What occurs from then on can only be described as a mad rush against the clock, and sometimes sacrificing doing my makeup.  I'm cool with this, because I can then do it on the train to work, and I've gotten pretty good at not poking my eye out, along with not really caring if people stare.

On this particular morning, I managed to not only do my eyeliner -- with application of mascara, no less! -- but my hair, eyeshadow and lipstick.  This doesn't happen very often, so I thought I'd share it with you, haha.

One last silly picture for the road!

Makeup (although you can't actually see all of it, 'cause of the dang sunlight)!

• Eyes: E.L.F. Cream Liner in Midnight (navy blue) topped with Revlon Colorstay Liquid Liner & L'Oreal Volumillions Mascara
• Face: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Bisque
• Cheeks: Laura Mercier Blush in Canyon Sunset
• Lips: L'Oreal lipstick in Tropical Coral 

These Boots Were Made for Walkin'

I went to the mall the other week, with the intent of returning a bunch of things -- among them makeup and accessories.  I was on a mission to get myself some money back, and I was not leaving until it became Mission: Accomplished.

My last stop turned out to be Nordstrom Rack, where I gladly returned 2 things I had changed my mind about.  I thought I'd wander over to the shoe section afterwards, and that's when I saw them: Clark's Desert Boots, all leather with a rubber sole in a 6.5 women's shoe for $39.90.  What. The. EFF?!  I knew that desert boots had always been considered a classic shoe, but an easy google search will leave you with many a website saying that Clark's Desert Boots are around $100, easy.  I tried them on and I had to have them (story of my life. Also, my sister asked if I was about to spend all the money I had just gotten back. Ha ha, very funny).  The quality was amazing -- solid leather that would become much more supple with wear, sturdy outsole, classic design.  Easy win!

Clark's Desert Boots

Love them!! They are a bit stiff at first, but with each day I've worn them, they've become easier and easier to wear.  I like to wear them with Dr. Scholl's insoles, just because I like the extra support.

At a park right nearby :)

Standing on my toes...anything to be a bit taller haha

HI-YA! :D

Engage: semi-awkward expression. Standing with my ever-trusty Kindle in hand!! I love the case, it has apples and bees on it :P

Purple beret: Target

Navy cardigan: Banana Republic

Light blue sweater top: Gap

Black scarf:  ??

Jeggings: Gap

Glasses: Warby Parker

Desert boots: Nordstrom Rack

Kindle Case: Etsy

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!  I am stuffed and ready to do some Black Friday shopping :)

A Brush in the Hand is Worth Two in the...

I am starting to think I have a fewwwww too many makeup brushes.  I've got paddle foundation brushes, I've got multiple eye blending brushes, I've got your flat shader eye ones and I've got your retractable kabukis.  You name it and I probably have something like it in my stash.  Through it all, though, there are most definitely some favorites of mine that I keep going back to!

Go-To Face Brushes, top to bottom: (1) Everyday Minerals flat top brush, (2) Ecotools blush brush, (3) Bdellium tools powder brush

Everyday Minerals flat top brush: Dense isn't a word you'd necessarily want to hear to describe yourself, but it is definitely a word you want to hear when describing a mineral makeup brush.  I've had this baby for almost 2 years and it's still going strong. It's truly one of the densest kabuki-type brushes I own, and is really great for buffing on mineral makeup.  In all the time I've had it, it has not shed a single hair.  Ridiculous, seriously. And at $10 at the time of purchase (I believe it's now $12 on the website -- although there's a current promotion going on, so act on that fast!) it is so, so worth it.

Ecotools blush brush: I am a big fan of Ecotools brushes, because they're so soft, inexpensive and honestly, just really great quality and bang for your buck (and eco-friendly, too!). This blush brush is from the Alicia Silverstone for Ecotools collection, and it was part of a set that included 3 other brushes and a super adorable cosmetic bag/brush holder in one.

Bdellium powder brush:  A green powder brush?? Who'da thunk? I discovered this gem after seeing it mentioned in one of Zoella's videos on Youtube.  It's uber soft and perfect for putting on some powder, or even blush and bronzer.  I bought these on eBay (also sold on Amazon) and it came in a pack of a few other brushes also, including a big fluffy eyeshadow brush, concealer brush and small angled contouring face brush. This powder brush and the fluffy eyeshadow brush are by far my favorites out of those. And really, who can resist something as fun as a green brush?

Go-To Eye Brushes, top to bottom: (1) Bubbi dual cover brush, (2) E.L.F. angled blending eye brush, (3) Sonia Kashuk multipurpose brush, (4) Ecotools flat shader brush, (5) Ecotools angled liner brush, (6) Ecotools fluffy brush

Bubbi dual cover brush: Dual ended brushes are so smart and convenient!  (I don't know about you, but they kind of remind me of those dual-ended pens with highlighter and pen on other side).  It's one less brush you need to take out when you get ready and I love that.  This dual ended brush by Bubz Beauty is gorgeous, and feels so nice on the skin.  It's really convenient for applying my tinted moisturizer and then flipping it on over and blending out the edges of my concealer.  Love!!

E.L.F. angled blending eye brush + Sonia Kashuk multipurpose brush + Ecotools flat shader brush: I don't always do my eyeshadow in the morning, but when I do, I reach for these. (Dos Equis, anybody)?  Blend blend blend and pat pat pat that color on -- all of these are totally good.

Ecotools angled liner brush:  I am, in a word, obsessed with this brush.  It also came in an Ecotools brush set (I sense a bit of a pattern here) and I've had it for about a year and a half -- still going strong and amazeballs for putting on that gel liner, with my choices being my MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack or any number of E.L.F. cream liners.  Yeah, you need to own this brush, and at around $5 you don't really have an excuse not to.

Ecotools fluffy brush: This bad boy has been going steady with my Sonia Kashuk Brightening Powder and they are a perfect couple.  I just pat this brush into the container and simply pat on the powder to set my not-so-steady undereye concealer -- perfect!

All of these brushes are inexpensive, soft to the touch and good at what they do!  This doesn't mean I won't be using my other brushes, or not buying any more, but I sure am loving them right now.

The Good Old College Try

In my efforts to be more health conscious, I came home straight from work and went for a run.  I then made this salad for dinner -- romaine lettuce, mushrooms, romano tomatoes and a sprinkling of feta cheese with a basil vinaigrette.  It was a very, very tasty salad -- such that I didn't feel deprived in any way.

Afterwards, I promptly went on a trip to McDonald's with my sisters so we could nab some equally tasty vanilla cones. Ah well -- Rome wasn't built in a day, you know.