Mineral Veil D.I.Y

Recently I've been feeling really bad if I spend my money. I go through these stages where I don't mind spending, heck I welcome it, or I'm such a penny pincher I obsess over the littlest purchase. Right now I'm going through the "obsess over the littlest purchase" phase. However, I need more mineral veil  by bareminerals and  since I don't really have $20 to drop on face powder right now, I decided I would go ahead and make my own.

 It's SUPER EASY! All you do is take  a small tupperwear container and mix 3tbs of corn starch and and about 1tbs of cocoa powder so you don't look like a geisha (obviously you'd add more cocoa powder if you have darker skin). Take a powder brush mix the powder into it and tap off the excess then apply to your face. If you apply the powder after your foundation it really helps your makeup stay all day (seriously!) and it cost less than a cupcake :)

I know it looks a little clumpy but trust me it works!

The first ingredient in mineral veil is corn starch (who knew) so you're getting a very similar product but for more than half the price.  I'm a corn starch convert now! Try it, let me know what you think.

 Shine free all day! 

Phineus giving kisses

Old friends (photo diary)

I feel like great friends are hard to come by and when you find one you have to hang on to them! I love when you haven't seen a good friend in a long time and you're able to pick up right where you left off. I have one of those friends. We've known each other since kindergarten and have kept in touch ever since. Even after I moved to Wisconsin after 2nd grade we still wrote to each other and whenever I visited Illinois I'd manage to see her. 

Now that I'm living in Chicago we recently hung out and played tourist for a day in downtown Chicago. We went shopping, got Mexican food at Blue Agave, and went to the signature lounge on the 94th floor of the Hancock building. I had such a great time chatting and catching up! 

Playing around at American Apparel

Outside the Hancock building

Thankful (part 2)

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I know I've done a post like this before (see here) but I just can help but do a part 2 because I really do have a lot to be thankful for AND it's Thanksgiving after all. So sorry if you find me repetitive...

 

I'm so thankful for many things in my life. 

Some of the things I'm thankful for:

 I'm thankful that I got to come home! I drove up today because I got off work late yesterday. When I arrived Thanksgiving dinner was almost ready, it smelled so good in the house. I try to come home almost every year for Thanksgiving. Usually I'm the only one because my siblings either live too far away or have to work on the weekend. I wish they were able to make it, but luckily I get to see them over Christmas. It's so nice to spend the holidays with my parents'

I'm thankful for Brian. He has helped me cope with various things in my life since we moved. Without him I don't think I would be who I am today. I wish I was able to spend this Thanksgiving with him, but unfortunately he had to work today. I am thankful that he had a potluck at his work so he at least got a Thanksgiving dinner. Hopefully next year we'll be able to spend it together. 

 

I'm thankful to have a job. It took me a while to find one, but I'm happy that I will be a lead teacher soon and will be able to make lesson plans again. I feel a little rusty at it, but I hope it will be easy once I practice a little. I also really need the mulah. I have to start paying back my loans... I'm not looking forward to it. Hopefully it won't take me too long to be debt free!  

I'm also thankful for my kitten, who is almost no longer a kitten (he's 7 months old). He's so sweet and loves to cuddle most of the time. Whenever I'm gone I always miss him... I'm such a cat lady! :) 

 

Here are some random photos:

 

Me and Brian at Tribute Brewing Co.

 

 

 

Me and Phineus (best buds)

 

 

 

 

 

Toned

I had the best work out today! You know when you really sweat and are all disgusting... I LOOOVE that!!!! 

Today Brian and I joined our local gym. It's perfect! They have so many group classes, cardio machines, and weights. I actually decided that I'm going to try out lifting. I really want to get toned up. I want to start now so I'm nice and fit once spring/summer rolls around because why start when you're beginning to wear swim suits and shorts. I've said I was going to tone up (well actually lose weight) many times before but I think I was going after it for all the wrong reasons. This time it's not to lose weight because actually when I signed up they checked my body fat % and I was on the low point of average (yay me!) so I want to do it to feel good all around. It will be a perk that clothes will fit a little better and I'll feel a little more confident in my own skin. 

I'm also going to try and eat healthier too because a toned body is made not only in the gym but in the kitchen too. I think this part will be the hardest for me because I love sweet things...hey I can't help it! But I'll try my hardest. 

Hair

Recently I've been trying to revive my hair. After 4 months of no trim, some highlights, tangles, and cold weather my hair is frazzled. I've been looking for products that would help revive my hair without cutting it all off, because I'm trying to grow my hair out (I also told Brian I wouldn't cut my hair until after we're married ;)]

First I tried an at home treatment of coconut oil mentioned by barefoot blonde, and I mean who wouldn't want her hair! First, I wet my hair and slathered coconut oil all over from root to tip. I know many experts say that you're not suppose to put product on your roots because it will weigh hair down, but my hair tends to break right at the roots so I figured I might as well try it. After I had it all over my hair I wrapped it up in saran wrap and blow dried it for about 5-10 minutes to let it sink in. Then I let it sit with the saran wrap on for about another 15 minutes. Afterwards I washed my hair with shampoo and conditioner and let my hair air dry. I found that the coconut oil made my hair really soft and the ends really smooth. I probably will keep using the mask about once a month.

Here is before the coconut oil

Here is after the coconut oil

Another product I've been using is oil-licious by got2b

 I read a review about it on maskcara.com and figured I would give it a try. She said it was comparable to moroccan oil, which I've really wanted to try, but it's so expensive that I figured if there was a similar and cheaper version why not give it a try. So far I love it! I can't compare the two, but oil-licious doesn't leave my hair feeling greasy by any means, which I was really surprised about. I've used other, cheaper, products in the past that always left my hair feeling gross, but not this. I put it in after I shower in the mornings and let it air dry. My hair always feels smooth and it's starting to look shinier. I will continue using until I can afford to buy moroccan oil so I can compare the two.

I have also started using SG conditioning cleanser. It doesn't sud up like normal shampoo because it is sulfate free, which means it won't dry your hair out. I mainly use this after I work out at night so I can clean my hair without striping it of it's natural oils. The smell isn't the best, but I've noticed that my hair looks a lot healthier and less frizzy from using this cleanser. 

Home

Sorry I've been MIA this past week! Work is starting to take over my life!! :( But I promise I'll work on that).

Yesterday Brian and I headed up to Three Lakes, WI. We came up here to pick up my new car which is beautiful! Did I mention it has a sun roof?? I'm in love!

But anyway, Three Lakes is so relaxing. It's the prefect getaway. I'm so lucky that I was able to grow up around here (even though I didn't feel that way at the time). My parents' house is by the lake so when I sit down for at the dining room table I get to look out at the water. The stars at night are awesome! On a clear night you can always see the Milky Way... I miss that! My sisters, brother, and I are truly blessed! 

Another area I love right by my parents' house are these trails that are right off their road. They belong to a camp, but I love to go back there and run. One of the trials lead to a little lake called Mirror Lake. I like to go back there because I can just be with myself and my thoughts, it's so peaceful. It's a perfect spot to do yoga.

Christmas Cactus 

So happy to be home!!!! 

Sorry this is kind of blurry 

View from my the dining room table

Beautiful 

Lazy days and product review

Hello Everyone!

I loooove lazy days. Ever since I started working again I feel like I haven't had enough of them. My day consisted of depositing checks, going to the DMV (though I don't know how relaxing that is) and going to target....exciting, right?!?!? It's nice to have some alone time and to just not think for a while. 

Anyway, as you know i'm a makeup addict and wanted to review a product for you guys, because i find it helpful to read someones personal experience with something vs. the companies opinion, which is what I think they put on the product website.


But anyway, so I recently I ran out of my arbonne makeup primer. I loved this stuff! It helped my makeup stay on all day and helped with shine control. However, my skin adapts to products easily so I have to switch it up every now and then. I had been searching for a new primer when I came across Benefit's porefessional. It's a makeup primer balm that's suppose to reduce the appearance of fine lines and smooth out your skin and reduce the appearance of your pores. So I decided to give it a try.



I found that the texture of this product is very smooth and silky. It comes out tinted so if you didn't feel like wearing foundation you would have a nice light coverage. I applied this all over my face and did notice that my pores appeared smaller, though the effects wears off once you wash your face. Porefessional also helps your makeup stay on all day and keeps your face nice and shine free (which is great for someone with really oily skin like me)! I tend to get oily eyelids and my eyeliner smudges if I don't wear primer, so this helps a lot!


Overall, I think this is a great product. I would buy this again and would recommend it to anyone looking for a new triple duty primer.

Have a great rest of your weekend!
xo