L...O...T...D...

Happy Monday everyone! I trust you all are doing well??!! It has been hella crazy with the weather here... Sometimes snow flurries, then the next moment temperatures mimicking a crisp fall day??? What next?!

Anyways, today was a little uneventful. Just work and then some YouTube surfing. However, I was inspired to play with some makeup afterwards...

Wanna see???

Aren't I adorable? I love this look! I had purchased an eyeshadow trio by the Sally Hansen/Carmindy collaboration line and I thought the shadows were going to be a lot darker than this... however, I actually like the way the blue looks. It's smoky without being overpowering. I paired it with a frosty pink lip gloss and a bright candy-colored blush. When you add these ingredients together, you get an unbelivably innocent look. I could almost get away with anything, no?

Let me tell you what I used:

Face:
NYX blush in Pinky
Nars blush in Orgasm (used for shimmer/highlight)
...surprisingly no foundation or tinted moisturizer!

Eyes:
Urban Decay Primer Potion
Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Ocean Eye palette
NYC eyeliner in Black/Ebony
Almay One Coat Thickening mascara in Blackest Black
NYC Browser kit in Brunette

Lips:
Rosebud Strawberry Lip Balm
NYX Goddess of the Night lip gloss in French Kiss
Lip Smacker Squeezy lip gloss in Pink Lemonade (used for minimal shine)

Some of these products sound as sweet as cotton candy! And before you even ask, yes, I am in my pajamas. I had gotten out of the shower and just went to work on this look... If you noticed, my hair is all curled up too... I was inspired by some of the short hair tutorials people had to offer and tried something new. One of my favorites referenced Selena Gomez's curly up do. I put my own spin on it and here's a closer look at what I came up with...

...from the front...

and the back.

What do you think? It seems to make me look like I have more hair... I dunno. Anyways, I just wanted to take the time to share with you. Hope you liked my look, and thank you for stopping by for a little while!


Kisses! ♥

in and out... (4)

It's my first "in and out" of the year! Here goes...


IN:

1. Working out.
I have been rediscovering the pain that comes with using a Jillian Michaels fitness DVD and she has been kicking my ass! Still, I do feel pretty good afterwards... like I really accomplished something! Lol.

2. Developing a new budget.
Hauls are so much fun, but not so hot if you still have bills left to pay! I have been working on a new personal budget in order to help me stick to spending only so much a month... I mean, how much makeup does a girl really need??! Well, a lot. But that's besides the point...

3. New goals.
I never really liked setting resolutions... You can start fresh at any time! I am aware that it just feels good going into a new year with a new idea of you, but sometimes we can't just jump into things cold turkey, no? So instead, I set goals. It's also important to write them down. That way, when you are reflecting on yourself and what you have acheived, six months or a year from now, you can really feel good to see that you conquered your challenge.

4. Self-confidence.
Okay, I've never really had a huge issue with self-confidence considering the last few posts I put up... (they're all of me!) But recently, I haven't been feeling stellar. Just not myself... and a lot of second-guessing within the last two weeks. I have decided that this is 2010 and no time to be a shrinking violet! I am who I am, and I love me! Not to be conceited, but I am pretty awesome and others should know too!


OUT:

1.Hiatus.
Really, Ari??! Two weeks??
I know that it has been a while since I posted anything, but my schedule has been crazy. My family, job, friends and bf have all needed my undivided attention. So, I am planning out a blog schedule to help myself stay on track. I appreciate my few followers and I am sorry if I have disappointed in any way with my lack of content! Thank you for continuing to take the time to stop by... that is, if you're still reading this space!

2. No personal space.
Okay, it is time to put on the big girl undies and move out! I think I have been enjoying that little area under my momma's wing so much that I have forgotten there is a time when we have to leave the nest... So one of my other goals is to do just that!

Even though I am like 20 days late (damn procratination!), are there any goals/aspirations/resolutions/dreams etc. that you want to accomplish? ;)

gimmie a head with hair!

Just dropping by to say hi!

So.... HI!!

I hope everyone had a great time over their holidays and enjoyed ringing in the new year. Me? I fell asleep and woke up 15 MINUTES after the ball dropped!!!! Total fail.... Still, I did look cute doing it. I will be back soon to share some stuff, but until then enjoy these pics of my fabulous hair! (It decided to cooperate, so I decided to commemorate the moment.)

Thanks for stopping by! ;)

you play too much!

It's been a little while since I've posted a FOTD or an OOTD...

So, why not do both in this post??!

I was playing around with some different shades after picking up an e.l.f. palette for $5 from Target. It comes with some really nice basic shades. I added a little sparkle and a pop of color and really enjoyed what I came up with! The first few pics are of how it turned out. The latter photos are of me messing around in the bathroom, trying to figure out the timer function on the camera. (No worries. You can totally lol if you want!)

Can you tell I love taking photos of myself? I didn't think so either... ;)

liar, liar. pants on fire...

(This picture is not my personal property.)

Umm... is it just me, or does this FTC mandate make us sound more and more like liars everyday???

I understand that the angle is to make sure you aren't just positively endorsing products you get for free... The public wants and need honest reviews!

Still, with that being said, for me to have to announce that "this my honest opinion", even if I got something for free, seems like we're trying too hard to come off as honest in the first place, no? How do you really know I'm telling the truth?

I guess we go off the assumption that most beauty bloggers giving their reviews on a product treat their word as their bond, and typing an honest review means more than free gifts...

Alas, what can you do when the government has spoken???

so like i said... (pt 3)

Whew! Finally. The last installment of this birthday haul...

You know how they say, "save the best for last"? I totally did!

I have some kind of crazy obsession about shoes. Maybe the fact that in most situations, your shoe size doesn't change. Shoes can be as fancy or as plain as you'd like, and the sizes are a little less discrimanatory than clothing.

Without further ado, I give you the last additions to round out my haul:

My new black boots that actually work with my enormous calves... They have this ribbed sock thing going on at the top that really bothered me at first, but then I realized you can easily tuck them into the boot and no one will even know.

Bamboo: $28

Cutest booties ever! They make me feel uber-stylish and the height increasing platform isn't too shabby either.

Bamboo: $22 (but, I got them for $13!)

Ruched rocker booties gifted by the BF. SOOO comfortable!

Dollhouse: $24 (I think.)

My "Bebe" heels that make me feel absolutely sexy. Of course the heel is not as high as the originals. I wanted to be able to walk in them, lol... Check out the real ones here. If only I looked as cool as Karen does... A girl can dream, right?

Bamboo: $16 (but I got mine for $10 with a coupon)

This was the second pair of shoes I got from Urban Original to push my order up for free shipping! I love the scallop detail and dove gray shade of the suede.

Fahrenheit: $20

Last, but not least, one more fun pair from Target... they're more likely to be worn in the spring, but the color and price sold me now!

I can totally imagine these with some cuffed, distressed bf jeans and a sweatshirt. Only $9!!!

So, that's gonna wrap it up! Thanks for stopping by to check out my haul. All in all, a great birthday...


What are some of the coolest things you've gotten for your birthday? ♥

so like i said... (pt 2)

Okay, I'm ready to continue with what it was that I started earlier! In this post I figured I would do a small clothing haul. I found some great stuff right before my b-day that I thought I would share. So, on to part two...

An adorable sweater dress I found for $5!!! (The scarf was a gift from my grandma.)

A silk top by Kenar that was on the clearance rack at Marshalls.

A closer look at the collar detail.

A $5 skirt from Target and a suede purple belt from Old Navy.

One more cool Target find... $15!

I found this cute brown bomber at Burlington Coat Factory for $20.

Lastly, this coat that I found at Walmart. Only $7!!! The cool part? It reverses to a matte side!

I gotta admit, with this recession going on, it's easy to feel guilty about spending large amounts of money on trendy things. Maybe that's one of the reasons why I make it my mission to find a deal. It think us self declared cheap-cesses have a right to be on trend and stylish too! Why break the bank for things that may be out next season? My advice: Take some time to peruse the 30% - 50% off racks, hit up places like Goodwill to find things that are one of kind, affordable or inexpensive to alter (they carry blazers for $6! I found one from the Gap.) and change things like buttons, or adding trim/studs/distressing to make things new or luxe! Also, for me, accessorizing is key! Scarves, shoes and hats are crucial for taking my clothes to the next level, yet, won't leave me scrounging for change...

...so tell me, what are some of the items you've found that didn't leave a hole in your pocket? ;)