Juice 101

A couple weekends ago, I watched Hungry for Change on Netflix (a great documentary by the way!), and was inspired to try juicing.  That's all well and good if you happen to have a juicer, and we didn't, but still inspiring.  I thought about about splashing out on a juicer for the next couple of weeks, but then, just before I took the plunge, my in-laws gave us a Magic Bullet!  Great timing!!! The Bullet came with a juicing attachment, so I was able to give it a try.

All the reviews I read online before trying the attachment warned that it was terrible, but so far so good!  Sure it's not the best system in the world (my cabinets have been covered in nutritional goodness more than once), but it'll work for now!

I'm actually considering a juice fast... Just for a week or so...  We'll see...

Some days are stressful...

                         

     Today's stressful feel technically began with a sneeze yesterday...  One little sneeze, and I knew that I was in for a spring cold...  Ugh!  My instincts proved correct when I woke up with the scratchiest of throats and watery eyes.  No amount of tea could seem to fix my problem...

     Today was also the first day of our fiscal year at my place of work, and unfortunately, my job is one that is actually affected by this annual milestone.  The first day of FY2015 means that it's time for me to scramble to wrap up everyone else's loose ends, while still plugging along with my daily duties.  Accounting.

     When I tore off my Mary Englebreit calendar page this morning, I knew it was perfectly suited for the day.  

     Tricky though it was, I made it through & hope to feel a bit better tomorrow.  I have a sneaking suspicion I'll need a clear head to clean up today's mess!

A Sunny Saturday

Along with at least 80% of the population, I love Saturdays!  So full of possibilities, so free of time constraints...  Aaahhh...  I started off with what may look like breakfast to you, but looked like a moisturizing yogurt-honey mask to my face.

Went to the park with my yellow purse, and met a honey bee!  She loved my purse as well, and stuck around admiring it for several minutes.  It was a lovely afternoon...  Can't wait for another one!

An Everyday Face

I'm one if those girls that "puts their face on" every morning.  I mean EVERY MORNING.  When I have to go to work, church, shopping, and even when I plan on staying in my house alone all day.  I've done this for as long as I've worn make-up, which is since my first year of high school...  That's 15 years.

It's honestly not as burdensome as it may sound; I admit it does sound a bit labor intensive, but putting on makeup is a security blanket of sorts and I enjoy taking the time.  Hair?  Well that's a different story... for another time.

Here's what my face consists of these days:

Clinique All About Eyes- Got a sample awhile ago, and think it makes applying concealer a smoother process.

Maybeline Instant Age Rewind Concealer- Must get rid of the under-eye circles!

Loreal Magic Lumi Concealer/Highlighter- Another weapon in my never-ending battle against those circles...

Everyday Minerals mineral powder foundation- It's cheap and effective!  I never mastered the liquid foundation application, and my first failure is ever etched in my mind... 

Wet 'N Wild MegaGlo highlighter- This is my blush!  Must use a light hand.

Everyday Minerals finishing dust- I'm not too sure if this is actually doing anything, but I think I've detected a bit of difference...possibly...  The jury's still out.

Maybeline Color Tatoo eyeshadow base in Bad to the Bronze- I've been using this everyday for the past 2 months!

Urban Decay's Bootycall eyeshadow- The perfect highlighter color for me.

Urban Decay's Busted eyeshadow- No more eyeliner pencils for me!  I've been using the eyeshadow liner method with this Naked II Palette color.

Urban Decay's Lush Lash mascara- A birthday gift from my sister, it does a great job of lengthening with no yucky clumpage.

Extras in my bag...

Covergirl Eye CC cream- I want to like this...I really want to like this.

Pixi Bronzer- I'm not so confident about my bronzer application skills, but I like to have the option handy.

Avon Lash Super Curlacious Mascara- I don't know why I still have this after using the Urban Decay mascara, but I do.

February Favs

February is finally over!  It may technically be the shortest month of the year, but I think that we can all agree that it's really the longest... Blah...

However, good things can and do happen in the very longest of months, so here is a collection of some of the small things that made my favorites list:

Beauty & Skincare...

1. Arbonne Makeup Primer- I've long been suspicious of make-up primers.  I knew that the really dedicated make-up ladies in my life swore by them, but when I tried a couple, I wasn't impressed.  Just another step, and I couldn't tell the difference!  That all changed after trying this primer at an Arbonne party.  This primer isn't white, like the ones I'd tried before.  It looked like a pinky toned gel (terrible description, I know), and made my skin feel amazing.  When I first started using it, I tended to forget about it now and then, and I could tell the difference!  Maybe not right away, but it definitely was noticeable throughout the day. 

2. Wet N' Wild MegaGlo Illuminating Powder- True to it's name, this highlighter/blush definitely makes my skin glow.  Almost to a fault, I must admit...  You can't be too heavy handed with this very shimmery little disc, but so far, I love this blush and have been using every day.  I just sweep my brush against the 2 middle colors when I use it.

3. Urban Decay Bootycall eyeshadow- Scandalous I know...  I'm embarrassed to even post this on my blog, but my love for this eyeshadow compels me!  It's only available in the Naked 2 palette, and is lovely.  It's a highlighting color with a pinkish hue that I use as an all-over eyelid color, usually with just a crease color.  Again, everyday, and contrary to it's name, the color is heavenly... couldn't resist!

4. Everyday Minerals mineral powder jojoba foundation in Bare- I received this as a sample when I ordered a pot of regular mineral foundation from Everyday Minerals, and honestly, like it so much better than what I bought!  Everyday Minerals allows you to choose 5 samples of foundation/blush/face powders with every order, or you can even just get the samples if you pay the shipping.

5. Philosophy's Loveswept- I found this in a perfume sample bag from Sephora at the beginning of the month, and have been using it exclusively since!  I bought a bottle at Ulta a couple weeks ago to seal the deal.  It's described as having a "soft floral scent," and I totally agree.  Soft and subtle.

Miscellaneous...

My iPad- Still loving my unnecessary Apple product!  In fact, I'm writing this blog post on it :)

Mystery Science Theater 3000- I'd been briefly introduced to this show in college, but hadn't watched an episode until this month, thanks to YouTube.  It's essentially a show that mocks bad B-movies, and ranges from hilarious to mildly entertaining depending on the movie.  It's amazing how many terrible movies are produced in this country!

Kashi GoLean Crisp Toasted Berry Crumble- Last month I opened a new box of Kashi GoLean Crunch granola, only to find GoLean crisp instead.  They'd mispackaged it, but I loved it!  I now have added that to my list of on hand cereals.

That's all folks!

Five Pictures : 5000 words?

     I used to keep an art journal religiously... Almost everyday!  Not lately.  I scanned my five most recent pages, and they begin in July!  Oh dear, oh dear... ach sin agad e!  There you have it :)

Red Lobster & thorny beautiful goodness...

Happy Valentine's Day!

We had a beloved/hated minor holiday this week!  Yes, Friday was Valentine's Day, and Mr. Brown and I placed ourselves at the center of the madness.  We hadn't planned on it...at least, I hadn't planned on it.  But to the madness we went...  Red Lobster, 5:00pm.

It may sound strange, but I actually enjoyed being in the middle of the Valentine's Day busy-ness!  In the lobby of a classic date restaurant with a bunch of other couples...I really felt part of something ;)

In other news, the cold weather seems to have subsided for the time being which is cause to C-E-L-E-B-R-A-T-E!  I look forward to an entire week of above freezing temps.  It should be a lot more productive than this past week because honestly, I didn't get much done.  Not much to report.  Feel let down?