Too many choices!

Last night, my bf and I went to WalMart to pick up a few last minute toiletry items and snacks for our vacation.  As I mentioned before, we are going on a 4 day Western Caribbean cruise to Cozumel, Mexico.  Well, as I stood in the dental hygeine aisle, stressing out about picking a new toothbrush, I was overwhelmed by how many choices there were!  This is not the first time I have noticed the dilemma - picking out bras, feminine products, electronics....there are so many choices!  And don't get me wrong - I absolutely love it!  Having so many choices and the widespread availabity of substitutes is what keeps competition up, prices down, and allows for nearly everyone to customize and find products that work for them.  But the reality is that sometimes we can get bombarded by how many options there are for the simplest products!

In the end, I picked out an Equate brand soft bristle toothbrush for $1.  I usually use the freebie that my dentist provides, but now that I am no longer a student and on a new insurance plan, I have found myself without dental insurance for the first time...meaning that visits to my dentists will be delayed for a bit.  I'm not stressing though, the main thing is that I have health and vision.  I have two health priorities - feminine health (is there a better term for it?) and vision, and I can happily manage both of these areas with the coverage that I have.

Side note: Last night at the pharmacy, I was pleasantly surprised to discover the difference in prescription coverage from my old insurance to my new.  Prescriptions are like 1/3 of what they were!

<3 it!

Something is always missing...

So, in my apperance, it seems that I am always missing something.
If I fix my hair and makeup nice, my nails are unpolished.

If I have a cute outfit, my shoes are not up to par.

Well today something like that happened.

I set out with a cute outfit:

Bright green linen skirt from Old Navy
Black "puff" sleeve scoopneck t-shirt from Target
(layered over) a white racerback tank from Target
Black reef sandals

White Rosestud earrings from Michele1218
Tiffany's heart bracelet/necklace combo
Claddaugh band, 3 ring puzzle ring, birthstone ring

My nails and toenails are painted green to match the skirt (China Glaze)

Makeup - Over my primer, I used NYX jumbo pencil in lemon as the shadow base and I put light green all over the lid, Gunmetal in the crease and lower lash line, black liner on top lash line and waterline.  I dusted NYC bronzer in the shade "Sunny" on my face and used Nars Portofino as my blush...

As I'm driving in the car, I glance in the mirror and realize what I have forgotten.

Mascara.

Ugh!  I didn't have any in my purse, so I'll have to do without today.  Funny that I finally polish my nails and then forget mascara, which I wear everyday.

Hmm maybe I was distracted by watching last night's episode of Secret Life while I was getting ready?

Target Love

I LOVE TARGET!

That is all.

Haul #2 – Mac, Urban Decay, Nars, NYX

I have acquired several goodies for my makeup collection over the last few weeks. 

From the upper right corner and going clockwise -

Silverthorn, Apres-Ski, Pollinator, Maira’s Mood, Bitter, Swimming, Aquavert, Blue Flame. 

Persuasive Mineralize ES in center.

 

I picked up each of these MAC eyeshadows at the Cosmetics Company Store.  I found Silverthorn, Swimming, and Blue Flame at the CCO in Clinton, CT and I got the rest at the CCO in Central Valley, NY.  I haven’t had the chance to use all of the shadows yet but Silverthorn has quickly become a favorite.  This past weekend I did a fun look using Aquavert on the lid, Bitter on the inner third, and Blue Flame in the crease.  I added UD 24/7 liner in Zero on my upper lash line and UD 24/7 in Flipside on my waterline.  Sounds like a strange combo, but this was actually one of my favorite summer looks so far.  I didn’t take any pics, so I’ll have to do it again soon and document the results.

I also got an empty Mac pro palette.  I will probably wait until I have enough shadows to fill the palette before I depot them.

Next goodie is the Naked Palette from Urban Decay.  For a while I thought about buying UD’s Gunmetal eyeshadow in a single but couldn’t bring myself to spend $17+shipping on one shadow.  After hearing so much about the Naked Palette and finding out that it included Gunmetal, I thought this would be a much better value.  I actually bought this as a treat for myself after I accepted the job offer.  Thought it would be a nice way to experiment with neutral work-appropriate looks.

Drumroll please…

 

My first Nars product!  I stopped by the Nars counter in Lord & Taylor a couple weeks ago…ok the truth is I was drawn to it about three times to check out their products.  I heard so much about the Copacabana and Orgasm Multiples so I couldn’t skip the chance to check them out in person. 

Copacabana is such a pretty shimmery color, but it is too light for my skintone, even as a highlight.  I really liked the color of orgasm – a shimmery pink – but noticed that it didn’t really “pop” against my skin.  My boyfriend encouraged me to speak to the makeup artist at the counter.  When I asked her whether she thought Orgasm would be a good blush shade for me, she suggested that Portofino might work better.  She pointed out that Orgasm looked pretty enough and could work, but that the color was just..there.  I wouldn’t be able to layer it and make it darker or more intense.  With Portofino, I could make it as intense as I want.

I love this product.  So far I have used it only as a blush, but I really like it and I am looking forward to using it on the cruise!

I got these NYX eyeshadow trios from Ulta.  I love these colors and I am very excited to try out other NYX products.  I also got a couple of jumbo eyeshadow pencils – Lavender, Baby Blue, and Pacific.  I am looking forward to using these jumbo pencils as an eyeshadow base, but I am also hesitant because I tried the Lemon jumbo pencil once and it creased on me :(  I am thinking that next time I will blend it better and make sure that I use it over a good eyeshadow base, like Too Faced Shadow Insurance.

I think that’s it for the major updates.  The majority of my makeup collection is eyeshadow and eye products.  Aside from my NYC blushable creme sticks and my Nars Multiple, I actually don’t have any face products.  I am hesitant about using liquid foundation…I used to use liquid foundation when I was in high school, but I have combination-oily skin and I am hesitant to try it again.  I am thinking of checking out Bare Minerals, but have not yet had a chance to stop in to their store.

Update

So as I mentioned in my last post, I’ve had a lot going on lately.

I officially began working my first full-time job.  I am working at a small market research firm that specializes in higher ed publishing.  The company I work at is also a consulting firm that does project management and hires freelancers to work on various projects for major publishing companies.  I have been working there since mid-April and I feel like I am now getting a good feel for the kinds of projects that the company takes on, the clients they work with, the project management process, etc.  I work with both the project side and the marketing side.  I am also working as “command central” of the office an serving as the main point of contact for freelancers and clients alike.  I am also responsible for developing contracts and completing various tasks, including troubleshooting technology problems that may arise.

Work is good, although I’m finding that I am having some trouble concentrating lately.  It must be because I am getting excited for my vacation next week!!

My boyfriend and I are going on a 4 day Western Caribbean cruise next weekend with a bunch of our friends.  We leave Thursday from Tampa.  I’m so excited!  Vacay starts Wednesday night after work, hopefully with Vampires Suck!

So I guess I should start thinking about packing!  I think I am all up to date on clothes…I got new dresses for dinner, new shorts, croc flops etc.  Which brings me to my next update…

Makeup!!  So quick back story to explain how I got into makeup.  I was actually did a google/YouTube search for DevaCurl reviews back when I first started using their products and came across this review from Michele1218 on YouTube.  From there I checked out her YouTube channel and discovered that there is this whole world of makeup and makeup gurus on YouTube.

The last couple years have been pretty rough for me and I found that getting into makeup and researching products and watching tutorials was not only a welcome distraction and newfound hobby, but it has also been a lot of fun to try out new looks and look my best, which has in turn, boosted my confidence.  I have been adding to my makeup collection lately, and I will include info about my recent additions in a seperate post.

Employed!

It's been a couple weeks since I last posted.  Since my birthday last month, I originally planned to document "Project 24" on this blog but sort of...fell behind.  I do have updates though, and I hope to start making major changes in September.  Summer is ending, and I am going on vacation this month, so I figure this will be my last "fun" month.

Well on to the news....

I am officially employed.  Woot!  I started temping back in April at a small market research/publishing firm, and throughout the first few weeks of working there, my boss hinted that she wanted to bring me on full-time, but was hesitant because of the way the economy had affected business.  On Wednesday, July 28th, she made me an offer.  I accepted the next day.  My official start date was August 1, 2010.

I had a good experience temping here and the internal transition from temp to full-time employee has been really easy, considering that I was treated as part of the team from day 1 and had already established myself as the "problem solver" and main contact person for the company.  The mental transition from unemployed temp to full-time employee, member of society was a huge one that I am still adjusting to.  Unemployment really takes a toll on you.  I spent the last 15 months awkwardly trying to avoid social events and discussions about work.  Re-assessing careers goals, freaking out about not having any money, waffling between feeling angry and feeling depressed and taking it out on those around me, etc.

I still feel like my peers and I were royally screwed.  I am still pissed about how that economy thing went down.  I deeply resent people who think its cute to NOT use birth control, have a baby or two, and then sit around and suck up welfare money...and then gloat about it.  Retardation should not be rewarded...yes I am still an angry little bean, but at least I feel like I have finally been given a chance.  I don't like getting up early and getting dressed up, but will admit this: I do like to work.  I like to get stuff done.  I like having a schedule and a routine, and I really like making money.  So yea, I plan on making this work for a bit.  Even if I have trouble focusing sometimes.  Even if I still struggle with procrastination just like I did through 17 years of schooling.  I keep reminding myself that this is a means to an end.  And if I happen to build a career in this area, then wonderful.  If not, then I can use this experience as a stepping stone to get to where I want to go.  And I can finally save up some money, so that I can do what I want.