China Glaze Prism Swatches/Review

Recently, China Glaze released the Prismatic collection.. a gorgeous set of duochrome glitter nail polishes. This polish, Prism, is from that collection. Prism is a complicated, unique, and gorgeous shade- Purple shifting to blue holographic micro-glitter interspersed with larger multi-colored glitter. I told you it was complicated! Better to just take a look at it, I think... 

I tried to photograph this shade in different lighting situations, as it really changes depending on the light. However, pictures don't do it justice! It is a luminous, gorgeous polish that you NEED to have.. its spectacular in person! Totally opaque in two coats.. shown are two coats with a topcoat of Seche Vite. I have the whole collection and they are all lovely, but I gravitate towards blue/purple polishes so I chose this one to show to you.
What do you think of this color?
Thank you so much for reading!
All the best,
Jessica

Disclosure: I purchased this polish myself for review :o)

i love you more than cupcakes

ph: Retro Love Photography | Society6

Dave Matthews Band Top 10

I hope you all had as wonderful of a weekend as I did!

I got to take a (child-less) road trip to Southern Illinois to spend the weekend with my mom and little sister! My mom called me a few weeks back, asking if I would be able to come down and surprise my sister, Kristi, with a girl's weekend. My sister has spent the past year juggling school to become a medical assistant, working as a manger at McAlister's Deli, and starting an internship at a doctor's office. Phew! That makes me tired just typing it! Needless to say, she has not had a full weekend off for quite a long time, so my mom thought it would be wonderful for us three girls to have a spa day on her first weekend off.

During my four hour drive down South, my phone decided to shut off and not turn back on for anything! At first I panicked, wondering what I would do so far away from home without a working phone (what if I got in an accident?), but then I heard one of my all-time favorite bands on the radio, Dave Matthews Band. I pulled out every Dave Matthews CD I had and forgot about my phone the whole rest of the trip.

I got started listening to Dave Matthews from my best friend in high school. We turned into quite the groupies, traveling to as many local concerts we could. Boy, I could tell you some stories sometime over a glass of wine!

But I finally arrived at my mom's house and snuck up to the front door. My mom answered and motioned for me to go into my sister's room to surprise her. I stepped into her doorway and saw her standing by her computer. Before I could shout, "Surprise!" I heard a song playing from her computer that stopped me dead in my tracks... Sister by Dave Matthews Band. This song is so special to my sister and I... it has gotten us through many tough times. When I heard it playing, I thought my mother might have already spilled the beans on the surprise (she's good at that). All I could mutter was, "Whatcha doing, Sister?"

Startled, she turned around and gave me the biggest hug I've had from her in a long time. She cried. I cried. My mom cried. (I guess that's not so uncommon with us though). I asked her why that song was playing and she said, "My computer just shuffled through my playlists to that song!" That made us cry even harder.

There are just some moments that you'll never be able to explain and never be able to forget!

So I thought I'd do a fun little post and share with you...

My Top 10 Dave Matthews Band Songs You Must Download

1. #41

"...why won't you ever be glad, it melts into wonder, I came in praying for you, why won't you run in the rain and play, let the tears splash all over you..."

2. You and Me

 - This was one of mine & Jeremy's wedding songs!

3. Sister 

"...sister, I hear you laugh, my heart fills full up, keep me please, sister, when you cry, I feel your tears, running down my face, sister, sister, you keep me..."

4. Some Devil

5. Grey Street 

6. Crash Into Me

"...sweet like candy to my soul, sweet you rock and sweet you roll, lost for you I'm so lost for you..."

7. Crush

8. Pig 

"...is this not enough, this blessed sip of life, is it not enough, staring down at the ground, oh then complain and pray more from above, greedy little pig..."

9. Angel

10. Baby Blue

 - This one is for all the mommies. Be sure to have a box of tissues for this one!

So if you've never listened to Dave Matthews Band or are looking for some new music, I recommend you try these! 

Let me know if you would like to see more music posts like this!

P.S. My mom and sis also introduced me to a guy you might have heard of... Philip Phillips? If you love Dave Matthews (or really cute guys who can sing and play guitar), I also recommend checking him out on American Idol. I think I fell in love... sorry hunny!

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The Zoya Blogger Collection by Birchbox

Recently, Birchbox and Zoya teamed up with 3 top beauty bloggers to create a set of nail polishes. This limited-edition set consists of three custom shades inspired by mood boards that were created by Eleventh Gorgeous, The Small Things, and Capitol Hill Style.
The three shades are Belle, a pink with gorgeous orange shimmer, Coraline, a sheer hot orange, and Kate, a sheer hot pink. Obviously, the shades coordinate beautifully! I decided to do a "funky french" with this set, alternating Kate and Coraline on my nails and then painting the tips with Belle. The tips are subtle, and I think this is a really perfect Summer manicure!

I'm really happy I snagged this set.. If you want to get it, too- do it soon! Like I said, it is limited edition.. So get it before its gone!
What do you think of the blogger collection?
Thank you so much for reading!
All the best,
Jessica

Disclosure: I purchased this set myself for review :o)
Also, the link to Zoya provided is my referral link.. If you sign up for a new account using that link, I get "Share the Love" points, and you get a free Zoya polish! Just go to the "My Promotions" tab under the "My Account" page after you sign up through that link..

Welcome everybody from F Yeah Nail Art!

I was lucky enough to get featured on F*** Yeah Nail Art today, and I see that a lot of people are making their way over from there! Thanks so much for checking out my blog, if you click the "nail art" category you'll see a lot of other designs I've done. Follow me on GFC, e-mail, or stick around some other way because I post nail art at least once a week, plus a ton of other stuff.. Thank you!! :o)

Dot and Elmer aren't super interested in whether you read my blog or not.. but I am!! 

i wonder

ph: red__rum

Max,

Sometimes I think I act like some kind of pseudo-psychologist- know -it -all deeper than the ocean -star crossed lover -big picture thinker -creative soul- kitchen sink astrologer -with daddy issues -who over stays her welcome.

I'm insecure, and I'm naive, and I give it all away up front. I talk during movies and know endless amounts of useless trivia. In short, I am annoying. I am that sappy eyed puppy child that follows all the cool kids around.

I am the best friend who falls in love with you, but keeps quiet as I help you pick out something nice for your girlfriend on valentines day. I am the kind of girl who actually thinks a letter like this one could really change someone's mind. I wonder how many of my memories of you are just my own fantasies mulled over a million ways
and projected onto every surface, reflected and refracted off your eyeballs into mine, so that I think they're reality.

you were the foreman of my heart but your burnt the blue prints and quit the project ("I can't work in these kind of conditions") But I kept working overtime, doing your job, I'm breaking my own heart now so that you don' have to get stressed out over that too. you are the proverbial charming trouble maker loved by school girls and teachers and mothers alike. it's like Tyler Durden taking Peter Pan's Wendy out for a milkshake. one glass, two straws.

but I didn't feel stupid around you. I didn't feel the girl in the "before" picture. I didn't feel like a square -wet blanket -sissy tattle- tale -brace-face -cry-baby. I know you don't kiss all the girls like that. or maybe you do. maybe I don't give a shit either way (she tried to say with conviction but the stupid little heart on her sleeve gave her away) I know when you dream, you dream of yourself but better, and not an asshole.

I wonder if you lay around naked eating cereal and laughing hysterically with all the girls. I wonder if you hand select the records you are going to play for them, or is it only for the girls that have record players? I wonder if a bottle of whiskey and chinese takeaway is just your "go-to" date when you can't think of anything creative to do. I wonder if you always inch your hand towards theirs under the covers after a fight as your silent way of saying sorry. I wonder if you tell all the girls that "right now you just wanted to hold them as tightly as you could."

I wonder if they all have nicknames. I wonder if all of them let you fuck them in their kitchens and bathrooms and in cars parked next to that apartment complex, and on trampolines or beach towels in the garden. I wonder if they all know how wonderful you really are.

I wonder if I was special, but for the first time in my life not because my daddy ran away and boys wouldn't look at me that way and I never got asked to dance and my ipod didn't have cool music on it and I laughed too loud and didn't wear thong underwear and I was scared we would get in trouble and I gave it all away up front and I talked during the movie and I was always embarrassed or hurt or worried and I need you to tell me that I'm pretty and funny and witty and smart and great in bed and a fantastic dancer and that I "get" you and it's me and you against the world and we talk like were in a woody allen film and the soundtrack sounds like garden state and that you run through the airport and say "oh my god, I love you like no one has ever loved you or will love you and whatever you do please don't get on that plane because I can't sleep can't eat can't breathe without you I think you're the one let's get fucking married."

I want to know if I was special so that I can get a good nights sleep and say yes when other men ask me out to dinner. I want to know because the unknown hurts more than the truth. I wonder if I'll ever sleep.

love always,
L.

Swing by Pretty & Polished!

Today I have a beautiful indie polish to show you- Swing by Pretty & Polished. Swing is a deep red jelly packed full of black and white glitter of varying size. The red jelly base, however, makes some of the white glitter look pink! It is a really fun, interesting, and different polish.

I think this is a really fun take on the "classic" red polish. I absolutely love many of the polishes that indie makers are coming out with lately and this is no exception. Chelsea, the girl behind Pretty & Polished makes a lot of awesome shades and this is just one of them. What is also nice is that she is constantly coming up with new ones! They are in really high demand so her shop sells out quickly, but its worth the effort to stalk her Etsy shop and snag these pretties when you can!
What do you think of this color?
Thank you so much for reading!
All the best,
Jessica

Disclosure: I purchased this polish myself for review :o)

how to show someone that you love them

ph: Clara Z

My International Beauty Swap with Heather of Sugar and Spice!

Recently,  Rachael of Island Girl Insights ran a blogger-only swap.. This was an opportunity for members of the beauty blogging community to meet up and trade favorite beauty products with each other. I was lucky enough to be paired up with the lovely Heather of Sugar and Spice. This was a really lucky pairing for a few reasons: First of all, Heather lives in England and I live in the U.S-so were able to swap for things that aren't available in our respective countries. Secondly, it turns out that we share pretty much the same tastes in makeup and also have very similar complexions- so it was really easy to shop for each other. Lastly- Heather is just a sweetheart! She was a pleasure to deal with and it was easy as pie chatting and working out the details of the swap. I had a ton of fun shopping for her and putting together her package, but she hasn't received it yet so I won't talk about it here and spoil the surprise!
Lucky for me, I have gotten mine already and it is amazing! I'm really excited to share it with you all.

Heather obviously took a lot of time and care putting this swap together. We asked each other some questions about what brands/products/shades we would like to get, and she was definitely paying attention! Here is what she sent me:

Sleek Au Naturel Eyeshadow Palette

17 Lipstick in Honey Blossom

Berry Crush Lipstain in Sleepover

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer

Collection 2000 Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Liner in Purple

Barry M Dazzle Dust 

Barry M Nail Polish in Raspberry

Barry M Nail Polish in Gold Foil Effect

Max Factor Nail Polish in Fantasy Fire

And.. A bar of Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate.. my favorite!

Plus, a sweet handwritten note telling me what she had chosen to send and why.

This was such an amazing package to get in the mail! A box full of goodies from the other side of the pond. I have been dying to get my hands on a Sleek palette, I've heard so many good things about them and like all the other great items Heather sent, they aren't available here! From the lovely polishes to the lip products.. Everything she sent is so special and thoughtful. I love doing swaps but sometimes they are tough because you don't know who you will be paired with, if it will work out, etc. Rachael obviously put together a great group of girls, and I'm so grateful that I got paired up with Heather.. She even sent everything in a darling little box that she spent an hour wrapping in pretty paper! Clearly a lot of time and effort was put into sending me this swap and I am so happy to have recieved it. Thank you so much Heather, and Rachael as well for putting the swap together! 

What do you all think of the package I got? Are there any products in it that you'd specifically like to see me review here on the blog?

Thank you so much for reading! 

All the best, 

Jessica

things are different now

ph: Shannon Crosby

Things are different now. No other eyes are as captivating. No other smile is as contagious.
No one else’s words are as reassuring. No other arms are as comforting. I don’t long to hear any other voice on the other side of the phone. I don’t get butterflies at the thought of anyone else. Things are different now. When another walks by, I no longer give a second look. It’s like no one else exists; no one but you. They say that “love is blind;” and if anything, I’m only blind to everyone else. No one can measure up to you. They always fall short. Things are different now. Seeing through the eyes of love is like seeing under a microscope. I see things in you that I could never see in others, with my old eyes naked of love. Each little quirk, story, and moment with you are like the cells that make you who you are to me. The more I know you, discover things about you, the deeper I fall, captivated by the simplistic nature of who you are. It’s as though I’ve discovered something for the very first time, and now that I know of its existence I can’t imagine a world without. Things are different now. As I learn about you, I am also learning about myself. I’ve never felt like I quite belonged in this world until now. Until I had someone to walk beside me, encourage me, dream with me. Things are different now. I smile at the thought of you. I cry at the thought of being away from you. I fear, always have and always will, but with you it’s a different fear. It isn’t so much a fear of you causing harm, but a fear of losing you to the unknown. Things are different now. I let my guard down. Give you a straight shot to my heart and all that I am. I trust you. Something that is not easy for me to do. Things are different now. I love this difference: the joy, the anxiousness, and the longing. I hate this difference: the unknown, the risks, and the doubt. Things are different now. Please, be careful. I never thought this would happen. I had given up hope. But here you are…my hope in love, in true happiness, in the future. Things are different now. Thank you.

Glo Essentials Re-Energize Dry Shampoo

Up for review today is Re-Energize dry shampoo in Brunette from Glo Essentials. I usually steer clear of dry shampoos as they tend to give me that "powdered wig" look because I have dark hair. This one, however,  is made specifically for brunettes like me and contains NO talc! (don't worry, if you have light hair Glo also makes a colorless dry shampoo)
I went without washing my hair for a few days, lets pretend it was specifically to test this product and not because I'm lazy, okay?
As you can see in the photo below, my hair was starting to get a little greasy looking.

Per the instructions, I sprayed on the dry shampoo and then brushed my hair after waiting a few minutes. I could really feel the difference, the shampoo soaked up the excess oil and made my hair look and feel much cleaner. It smelled freshly washed, too. I didn't look like I had JUST washed my hair, but I certainly looked like I had washed it the day before (not ::cough:: three days ago). This is a great product to extend your time between shampoos.. like if you are traveling or wanting to extend a great salon blow-out before washing.
It is certainly the best dry shampoo I have used for my dark hair, the only one that has been completely invisible after use. As an extra bonus, like all Glo Essentials products this shampoo is free of parabens and sulfates.
I was lucky enough to be provided with some Glo products for review at the International Beauty Show, so this is the first of several I'll be featuring. I've been really happy with everything I've tried so far.. the products are all so effective and beyond salon-quality! But more on that later.. You can find this and other Glo products at http://www.gloprofessional.com/.
Do you use dry shampoos regularly?
Thank you so much for reading!
All the best,
Jessica

Disclosure: This product was provided to me by PR for review. As always, I am committed to giving you my honest opinion. :o)

THE PRESS CALL

SO IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN... FASHION WEEK. STANDING ROOM ONLY, FRONT ROW, NAMES ON THE DOOR, GO THROUGH THE BACK, NICE SHOES, LOVE THAT BAG. AIR KISSES! COCKTAILS SERVED IN JARS, PHONE BATTERY DEAD, CAMERA BATTERY DEAD, LATE NIGHTS, EARLY MORNINGS, CROISSANTS, DRY SHAMPOO. AFTER PARTY! MERCEDES BENZ FASHION WEEK AUSTRALIA IS A MERE 48HRS AWAY. I WILL BE COVERING (TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES. SEE ABOVE) THE WEEK SO MAKE SURE YOU FOLLOW ME ON 4TH AND BLEEKER, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM (4THANDBLEEKER). SEE YOU AT THE BAR, AIR KISSES.

MERCEDES BENZ FASHION WEEK 2012

Naked Cosmetics Urban Rustic Collection

An amazing, new-to-me company that I found during my recent trip to the International Beauty show was Naked Cosmetics. Naked Cosmetics makes beautiful mineral makeup, made of 100% pure pigment. All of their shades are made from oxidized mica and are absolutely gorgeous! They can be used alone as eyeshadows or mixed with other mediums for use on eyes, lips, body.. even hair! I really love multi-purpose products.
The pigments can be purchased individually, or in collections of 6. Today I am reviewing the "Urban Rustic" collection, a gorgeous set of rich, sparkly colors in a range of autumn type colors. The colors are numbered 1-6, and have been photographed/swatched in that order. Shown on my arm are the colors swatched without primer.

These pigments are so incredibly...pigmented! A little goes a very long way. These shadows are so rich and multi-dimensional, you can create a beautiful look using just a tiny bit of one color. The eye look shown was done using only shade #6, the beautiful sparkling brown. After applying Tarte's eyeshadow primer, I just blended a bit onto my lid, then mixed a tiny bit with some of Meow Cosmetics' eyeliner sealer and used that to line my eye with a little cat-eye flare at the end. Finally, I used what was left on my dry brush to lightly dab some along the lower lashline. A little mascara (Nuance by Salma Hayek Ultra-Volumizing) and some brow powder (Lancome Le Crayon Poudre) and the look was done- easy as pie! Obviously, you can create much more dramatic, complex looks with this set as well. I really love the versatility!
You can find these and a plethora of other shades on nakedcosmetics.net
Thank you so much for reading!
All the best,
Jessica

Disclosure: I purchased all mentioned products myself for review :o)

just one smile

ph: Ole Graf + weheartit

Tile Coasters

We recently purchased some new living room furniture, which was a MUCH needed upgrade from our grandparent's hand-me-down furniture we had been living with for 3 years (picture a 70's orange and brown floral couch, an over-stuffed blue sectional, and a pink recliner... EEK!). So with this furniture upgrade came the need for some coasters to protect our beautiful new tables. I found this tutorial on Pinterest for coasters made from ceramic tile, and made a quick trip to Michael's and Lowe's for supplies to whip up these beauties:

They were super easy to make, very durable, and hardly cost anything! I was SO happy with how they turned out, I decided to make another set for my mom who I'm going to see this weekend...Road Trip!

Here's how I made them:

I purchased 4 - 4x4 ceramic tiles from Lowe's for $0.74 each.

I had previously purchased scrapbook paper with my mom in mind (she loves all things beach!) so I cut those into 3 3/4" x 3 3/4" squares so you could still see 1/4" of the tile as a border.

Using a small foam brush, I applied a layer of Mod Podge to the top surface of the tile and positioned a paper square in the center. (Be sure to smooth any air bubbles under the paper). I let them dry about 10-15 minutes and applied another layer of Mod Podge over the paper, overlapping onto the sides of the tile. (The ridges or brush strokes you see when you first apply the Mod Podge will fade as it dries, but try to make it as even as possible).

After another 10-15 minutes, I repeated the process until I had 3 or 4 layers of Mod Podge on the coaster then let them dry completely. (How many times can you say Mod Podge in one post?)

P.S. If you're lazy like I am, don't wash your brush into between coats. Just wrap it in plastic wrap!

Then I sprayed on a couple coats of Valspar clear gloss sealer to give them extra durability and water-proofing.

I picked up some thin cork sheets from Michael's and cut them into strips. I glued the strips onto the edges of the tile using E-6000 glue (that stuff is amazing!). You could probably just use little squares of cork in the corners of the tile, but I wanted be certain that they wouldn't scratch up my momma's tables!

And there you have it, some beautiful, custom, cheap coasters! Even if you don't often use coasters in certain rooms, what a pretty way to dress up a table!

I wrapped them up in twine and placed them in a pretty seashell box I had been saving. (Am I the only one who saves every box and gift bag they receive?) It's the little touches that make a gift so special!

As I said before, I'm heading to my mom's house this weekend to surprise my sister and spend an ALL GIRL'S weekend together. Massages, movies, vineyards, and lots of food! I can't wait! I'll share with you soon the gift I made for my little sister for our girly get-together!

But for now, I think it's time to enjoy a nice cup of coffee and snuggle with my boys!

Here is where I link up to some great parties!

If you would like to follow me, you can find that information below. I love making new friends! Leave me a comment and let me know!

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"My entry into the Tuesday Confessional link party sponsored by Appliances Online and their Fridge Freezers."

MaaDisha Soap5 Ayurvedic Organic Soap Review

Up for review today is Soap5- the line of all-natural, ayurvedic soaps by MaaDisha. What does "Ayurvedic"mean, you ask? According to the MaaDisha website, all of their products are "based on Ayurvedic principles, which focus on the balancing of the three life forces/energies (the three doshas: Vatta, Pitta, and Kapha)"

According to Wikipedia (Hey, I'm not in school anymore- I can use Wikipedia as a source!!) a "Dosha" is:

"one of three bodily humors that make up one's constitution according to Ayurveda. These teachings are also known as the Tridosha system.

The central concept of Ayurvedic medicine is the theory that health exists when there is a balance between three fundamental bodily humours or doshas called Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

• Vāta or Vāyu (wind) is the impulse principle necessary to mobilize the function of the nervous system. It affects the windy humour, flatulence, gout, rheumatism, etc.^[1]
• Pitta (bile) is the bilious humour, or that secreted between the stomach and bowels and flowing through the liver and permeating spleen, heart, eyes, and skin; its chief quality is heat.^[2] It is the energy principle which uses bile to direct digestion and hence metabolism into the venous system.
• Kapha (phlegm) is the body fluid principle which relates to mucous, lubrication and the carrier of nutrients into the arterial system.

All Ayurvedic physicians believe that these ancient ideas, based in the knowledge discovered by the Rishis and Munis, exist in harmony with physical reality."

Ok, after that little venture into Ayurvedic research I think we are primed and ready to talk about this soap! Like I mentioned, these soaps are all-natural and organic. They have a very simple, wholesome list of ingredients which is something I really like. The three soaps- Orange, Neem, and Lavender, all share the same base ingredients: Sunflower oil, safflower oil, palm oil, coconut oil, aloe, lime essential oils, and turmeric. Each soap is made different by the addition of ingredients that read like a menu from an exotic eastern apothecary! Orange essential oils, lavender essential oils, comfrey roots, neem, wild ginger, olive oil, and holy basil oil are chosen for their healing and nourishing properties and added to their respective soaps. 

All three have a subtle, natural fragrance. The neem soap is the most subtle of the three, the orange soap has the brightest and freshest fragrance, and the lavender soap has the strongest (yet still subtle) scent. The lavender soap is my favorite, the scent is natural and relaxing without being overwhelming. What I also like is that unlike some bath products, these have no "chemical-ly" or overpowering fragrances... because they are made without chemicals! 

These soaps all have a really creamy lather, and they leave the skin feeling clean yet moisturized. I felt like they did not strip my skin of all its natural oils. I love natural, organic products... especially when they are efficacious! These soaps fulfill that requirement. I also love the idea behind these soaps, that they are based on Ayurvedic principles meant to optimize health and vitality. 

These soaps are available at maadisha.com 

What are your favorite natural/organic products?

Thank you so much for reading! 

All the best, 

Jessica

Disclosure: These products were provided to me by PR for review. As always, I am committed to giving you my honest opinion. :o)

why i should matter

ph: Makayla Rogers

For 5 years, I have wondered when I would be a priority. When I would be important enough for you to say, "I'm here," and mean it. For 5 years, I waited for your empty promises of marriage proposals, international adventures, the words "I love you...unconditionally," that you actually meant. With your initiative, we we shopped for rings. We discovered the perfect one, together. I bought yours that day. Even customized it to symbolize our uniqueness and commitment.
We created a world meant for us. Your poems defined the ground we walked on, and my lofty dreams consistently created unpredictable weather. Yet, we continued to walk even when the terrain became unstable, we went on. We pretended that the road was not rough and that we could handle anything, even though the distance seemed exhausting with no end in sight.
For 5 years I grew, and you regressed.

We envisioned little ones, even named them. Always insisting that their lives would involve the team that defined us, and the NFL Play 60. Instead, accidentally and unplanned, ended up with two of the most amazing pups on the planet. We discussed for days, as they remained without named, what we would call them. Our names fit. Same first initials are "meant to be." And we created theirs, same first initials - yet this time they defined unconditional love. We lived separately in the same space. Even when we included one another, we were removed from what actually existed. I remember when your touch was anything but comforting, and looking at you as though the piece that I once clung to had evaporated into a close circle of what became your social world, where the word "cunt" became casual, when referring to your partner. The names you began to call me in our ruthless arguments were so devastating, that even my responses couldn't be formed out of the breaths I had left. After, when I said "I love you," I really meant that I was terrified to be without you, and that my love was something I mistook for co-dependence, and that when you told me I was damaged, and would never find anyone else, I believed you. I believed everything you said from the beginning until the end.

Our drawn-out goodbye was complicated as we counted down the days until you actually left. Your last week here, not an exchange passed, where we both weren't in tears. Never once saying, "we can do this," "whatever needs to be done, we'll do it." Instead our common space filled with questions of "why" and "how." Never finding an actual answer, just realizing that the concept of "we" was too far gone to ever retrieve, if it ever even existed, and the questions of "why," were inconsequential. We ended up where we did, because that is what we created. I have said for the past year that we control our own destiny. Never realizing that our destiny meant what we would never work.

We collectively planned our goodbye. You were to give me my key in exchange for your remaining elements you conveniently left behind. Instead you cancelled, even though I had already gone. Asking if there was any other day that we could do "this," Precisely meaning, it's $2.00 Coors cans, and the ending game for the Mavericks and Thunder, and that is more important than our world of 5 years. I simply replied, "no." Fully knowing that if I held on any longer, my soul was going to die while pleading for validation and importance. Instead, I remained. Your last typed words of, "OK. I guess just throw it away," meant more than you had intended. It was the last time that I would listen and believe the words you were giving me. I threw it away. All of it. Defined with the realization and intent that never again would I beg nor plead with anyone for the reasons why I should matter.

Artsy Wednesday: Shoes!

Its Wednesday again, and that means it is time for another nail art challenge for Artsy Wednesday! This week the challenge was to create a manicure inspired by a pair of shoes that you own. I wanted to do something funky, so I chose one of my most interesting pairs of shoes... custom Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star high tops!

I used Sinful Colors Why Not (It was really a perfect match for the main blue of the shoes!) and Milani White on the Spot for the base, then added decoration inspired by the designs on the shoes using nail art pens and Sally Hansen Parrot. The design on the pinky and ring finger is meant to mimic the contrasting bright green stitching. What do you think? Do you have any shoes that would make great inspiration for a manicure?
Be sure to check out the awesome manicures by the other bloggers participating in Artsy Wednesday!

Lab Muffin

Pretty Purple Polish

Hooked!

Maria's Nail Art

Polished Genius

Nails by Ms. Lizard

Swaafie

Unnaked Nails

Nail & Polish

Thank you so much for reading!
All the best,
Jessica

Disclosure: I purchased all products mentioned myself :o)

Barielle Shades Buddha-Ful Swatches and Review

This past weekend at the International Beauty Show I had the opportunity to meet the team behind Barielle, the legendary nail care company. Not only are Barielle's products amazing (I've been using their nail strengthening cream for years), but everyone I spoke to at the company was incredibly pleasant, kind, and gracious. It is really great to buy from a company that you know is made up of nice people!
I was lucky enough to be sent home with some goodies, which I will be reviewing over the coming weeks and months.
First up is Buddha-Ful, a unique and beautiful shade that immediately caught my eye. A lovely, sheer pink-ish nude to begin with, Buddha-Ful is taken to the next level by the dense iridescent green flakies floating in it. This polish is amazing... funky and demure all at once.

It is hard to do this polish justice in pictures.. The flakies shift and shimmer as you move your hands in the light, changing from nearly invisible to bright glowing green. A truly dimensional polish, and totally unique in my stash. I have a frightfully enormous polish collection, so that is saying a lot! I'm looking forward to experimenting with layering this polish, but I already love it on its own. Shown are three coats. This would be a great polish for someone who usually wears nude or "reserved" colors and wants to branch out a bit into something a little different. Formula-wise, this polish was easy as pie. Simple to put on and it had a reasonable drying time.
Have you ever tried Barielle polishes or treatments?
Thank you so much for reading!
All the best,
Jessica

Disclosure: This product was provided to me by PR for review. As always, I am committed to giving you my honest opinion :o)

you're constantly on my mind

ph: scattered words

Reader Beauty Secrets!

Recently, I asked my readers on Facebook to submit beauty tips and secrets that they would like to share on the blog.. I got a great response! You lovely ladies sent in some amazing tips... everything from home recipes to wonderful words of encouragement that we should remember BEFORE we put our makeup on each day. Below are the tips that were sent in- some are from fellow bloggers, I have included their links as well so you can check out their blogs and collect even more great beauty info! 

Amanda from Berry Polished writes:

"Here is my best beauty tip:  Everyone needs to start polishing the "free edge" of their nail!  It's the part of your nail that you run your file across.  When I started doing this it rocked my nail-polishing world because it drastically increased how long my manicure lasted :)

My blog is Berry Polished at www.berrypolished.com or my facebook page is BerryPolished.com atwww.facebook.com/BerryPolished. "

Mandie from Mandie's Manicures writes:

"Here's a beauty tip from me for you to include if you'd like: Patience is a virtue. If a polish is incredibly sheer, work with it slowly. Don't use thick coats to get it to be quickly opaque because it will not dry properly, which may cause dents. It is better to build up the polish with four or five thin coats rather than two thick globs of polish."

www.mandiesmanicures.com

Lisa from Cosmetic Sanctuary writes"

"Make sure to paint the very tippy top of your nail (or as most say 'wrap your nail') for a longer lasting manicure!  Wrap the very tip with base coat, polish color as well as top coat!"

www.CosmeticSanctuary.com

 Heather writes:

"Ok, So I wear eye make up..  eye shadow (usually 2 to 3 shades of the same color), mascara(water proof), eye liner, and sometimes I glitter it up! I used to spend my money on all kinds of eye make up remover.. UGH!!!!!!   What a waste... Every kind of make up remover I have used, it was getting costly. See, they would always leave that part of my face oily, and gritty, and make me break out right near my eyes, and half the time it wouldnt take ALL of the make up off..which was freakin annoying. One day I was out of stupid remover and I had my Jergens Unscented lotion that I got from Wal-Mart for like 2.97, I put some on my lids and took some toilet paper (yes, the best to use to take maku-up off) and rubbed it off my eye (of course close them..LOL) and in 2 to 3 wipes, ALL MAKE UP WAS GONE.  PLUS it didnt dry out that area, it was oily, and gritty, and I didnt break out. infact it makes my eye area look great and moiturized up! (i dunno if that makes sense..lol)

Im 29 yrs old and have been using this technique for at least 10 years.. no issues.  Heather L, Rochester, NY "

Samantha F. writes:

"I have combination skin that tends to break out easily. I was using Clean & Clear sensitive foaming face wash followed by an apricot scrub for years, but I switched to Olay foaming face wash last year (blue bottle), it does not have the acne ingredients that Clean & Clear cleanser did and I follow with an apricot scrub every other day. My skin definitely does not break out nearly as much as it used to, and doesn't get oily as easily. So my cleanser advice is to go with the least ingredients you need in a product, because using one with too many things your skin doesn't actually need can make it in worse condition."

Lyndsey of Nails by Ms. Lizard writes:

"I keep my face clean and clear by using an electric toothbrush with my fav. cleanser usually something with tea tree. I then take a warm green tea bag and rub it on my face and eyelids. I close my pores with an ice cube. I like to use a black head tool on my nose. I hate the pores on my nose!"

http://nailsbymslizard.blogspot.com/




Becky from Naked without Polish writes:
"It's actually for storing lipsticks. 

I took notebook paper and cut strips by using the blue lines as markers. Then I cut the strips into little squares. I mark a square with a little bit of lipstick. Then I take Scotch tape and I tape it to the lip stick tube. Now, I can store the lipstick in a drawer or container or whatnot and I can see what color it is and not have to open and close several tubes to get the one I want! It's been super helpful! 

Becky @ http://nakedwithoutpolish.blogspot.com/"

Becky even sent in a photo to illustrate!

Heidi writes:

"I use 2 body scrubs like it was a religion!

One is Sea Salt/Citrus Body Scrub

1/2 cup sea salt 

1/4 cup sweet almond oil or olive oil or coconut oil (I prefer coconut oil)

1/4 cup lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon lemon zest 

1/2 teaspoon orange zest 

I mix everything in a small mason jar and just swirl it with my fingers when ready to use. (After bath, shower) Rub all over skin, rinse, blot dry with a towel. It is enough for about 2 showers.

Second is Brown Sugar/Oatmeal Face Scrub

• 1 tbs brown sugar

• 1 tbs jojoba or coconut oil

• 2 tbs honey

• 3 tbs oatmeal

• Juice of half a lemon or lime

Mix together, massage over cleaned face, rinse. 

I can not be without those 2 scrubs!!! I have been using them since I am a teenager and have not used anything but some loose powder on my face as far as 'foundation' goes. 

Another thing I do is rub coconut oil into my skin before I go to bed. (Once a week or so) I get the refined stuff because it has no smell to it! My skin is very sensitive and chlorine in the water makes my skin dry out and crack. The coconut oil has been a life saver for me! 

ALMOST FORGOT!!! 

1/2 cup warm water

1 tbs Sea Salt 

1 tsp coconut oil

1 slice of lemon 

make a  nice nail soak. I keep my cuticles soft with a dab of coconut oil.... 

I AM IN LOVE WITH COCONUT OIL <3

hope this helps.... 

Heidi P. "

and finally, this wonderful tip from Carrie:

"Mine is less of a tip and more of a word of encouragement. I wish people would be more open to embracing their bodies- expecially faces. Love your freckles/moles, etc. Cindy Crawford and Marilyn Monroe are two famous ladies who have embraced their differences (that signature fcace mole) and freckles can be beautiful too.

Also- experement with making your own makeup! There's lot of websites that show you how to custom blend eyeshadow, lipgloss and more.You can dupe way more than just polish! A personal favorite? Making my own bath soaks. Dr. Teal's Lavender epsom salts, calgon bath beads, oatmeal and powdered milk are the ingredients in my concoction. I bag it up for gifts too!

I guess that's it for me- I love your blog/facebook by the way. You're so genuine; keep it up. :)

Carrie "crunchypeanutbutter"" 

Are these tips amazing or what?! I was so thrilled with what was sent in... a great, diverse collection of beauty tips from real girls just like you and me. Are there any tips that really caught your eye, or that you are looking forward to trying? Also, if you didn't have a chance to send in your best beauty secret, feel free to leave it in the comments below!

Thank you so much for reading! 

All the best, 

Jessica

MISSED OUT

HERE ARE MY SHOTS FOR THE MYER MISS SHOP BLOGGER PROJECT PHOTOGRAPHED BY THE AMAZING THOM KERR AND DIRECTED BY PEDESTRIAN T.V IN TOTAL SWINGIN' SIXTIES STYLE. CHECK OUT THE LINK HERE TO SEE THE OTHER BLOGGERS INVOLVED!

 

TO SHOP OUTFITS GO TO WWW.MYER.COM/MISSSHOP

he made me question everything

ph: Laura Makabresku

It’s so hard for me to comprehend what I’m feeling. I’m just the type of person who has to know what’s going on. But I don’t. I cannot, for the life of me, figure out went on with him, let alone what is going on with me.

Maybe it was my excitement. It had been so long since someone had shown such genuine, respectable, interest in me that it caught me off guard. Every time he paid me a compliment, I didn’t know how to react. I didn’t know whether to say ‘thank you’ or make a sarcastic, albeit funny, remark. Every time he laid out suave line, I didn’t know whether to call him out or play along. I didn’t know what I was doing. But it made me happy. He made me happy.

Despite all my inexperience in handling his mannerisms and style, he was still there. He still talked to me. He still wanted to see me. I could not figure out why, but I loved it. I loved that he wanted to see me for the sake of seeing me. I loved that he wanted to talk to me, for the sake of talking to me.

After years and years of being a ‘soloist’, six to be exact, I had forgotten what it was like to be wanted. I had forgotten that feeling of content and euphoria of knowing that someone was thinking of you and you were thinking of that someone too. That electricity you feel when he holds your hand, or put his arms around you. It’s addictive. It’s dangerous.

Maybe I was jumping to conclusions. I allowed myself to become deluded by this infatuation. I’d like to say that I grew to like him just because he showed interest in me, but I’d be lying.

Things took an unexpected turn for the worst and for the first time in my twenty years on this earth, I had my heart broken. It’s kind of stupid of me to say this on a blog like this, but if you haven’t had your heart broken, then there is no way I can even begin to explain how this feels. I can’t even understand it myself.

He led me on, left me in doubt and made me question my worth.

He made me question everything. Was it me? Was it him? Was it someone else? Every time I find myself alone, I can’t help but think. I can’t help but think of him. I NEED TO KNOW. Why the fuck do I need to know? For some reason I just can’t let it go.

There are so many things I want to know, so many things I want to say to him, but my insecurities hold me back. What if he doesn’t feel the same pain that I do? What if it was just nothing to him? Why must I look like a fool in front of him?

Somehow I just want to know that he’s also putting up a front. That he’s just pretending to be okay. That deep down inside, he regrets it.

I wish I didn’t feel like this. I wish I hated him. But I don’t. I really, really don’t hate him. I can’t hate him.

I’ve been told that maybe I’m more into the idea of being with someone that it is actually being with HIM. Fine, that makes perfect sense, but how I can I get over him, if he’s that SOMEONE attached to that idea?

All I can say is:
You’re a coward. Not because you couldn’t tell me you didn’t want to be with me with me for whatever reason. I’ll admit, if the roles were reversed, I would have had a hard time too. But you’re a coward because you were too scared to try. You were too scared to try to see that we would have been good. We would have been great.

Biscuits and Gravy

This weekend we celebrated my husband's birthday. He gets to enjoy one more year in his 20's! So I thought I'd make him one of his favorite breakfasts: Biscuits and Gravy.

It took me a few years to learn my husband's breakfast preferences... no dainty fruit parfaits, no sweet breakfast pastry, no oatmeal, no fruit anywhere near his pancakes. He wants eggs, meat, and potatoes. Or some combination of that. (Does he know how much he's missing out on?) So I thought biscuits and gravy would fit the bill for his birthday breakfast. 

I found this recipe shortly after Jeremy and I met. We were at a friend's house for breakfast and he was raving about how good the from-scratch gravy was and how I needed to learn how to make it. As I spotted the empty gravy mix package near her stove, I decided I'd show him what real gravy tastes like. The problem was I'd never made a gravy before and really had no clue where to start! This recipe is super easy and so comforting!

Start by baking the biscuits. I use a can of flaky layer biscuits from the refrigerator, but if you have your own biscuit recipe you love, use that! 

Brown 1 lb. of mild pork sausage over medium heat.

Drain all but 2 Tbsp of fat from the pan. Slowly add 1/2 cup of flour into the pan as the meat continues to cook. 

Use a wooden spoon to work the flour into the meat.

Add 4 cups of 2% milk to the pan and continue to cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thickened. (about 5-8 minutes)

 Once thickened, add 1 tsp of salt,

and 1/2 tsp of pepper. 

Add more milk to thin gravy if necessary. Split the warm biscuits on a plate, 

and load them up with the thick, yummy gravy! Sprinkle on some fresh cracked black pepper.

And then if you're my husband, add double the biscuits and a ton more gravy. Hey, it's his birthday!

Here's the recipe:

Biscuits and Gravy

1 lb. mild pork sausage

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

4 cups 2% milk

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 can of refrigerated biscuits

Bake biscuits according to package directions. Brown sausage over medium heat and drain all but 2 Tbsp of fat from the pan. Slowly add flour into the pan as the meat continues to cook. Use a wooden spoon to work the flour into the meat. Add milk and continue to cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thickened (about 5-8 minutes).  Add salt and pepper and if necessary, add more milk to thin the gravy. Serve on top of warm biscuits.

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