All I Want for Christmas & Holly Jolly Holiday Tag

Hi Everyone!  This is a bit late but this is a fun tag to do.  Thanks, Linh, for the tag!

All I Want For Christmas Tag

1.  What was the best present you received as a child?
A cute white purse with a flower design on the front.  My mom gave it to me at a time when our family couldn't really afford it.

2.  What's at the top of your wish list this year?
Mr. P and I really wished hard for a house!

3.  Do you have a funny Christmas tradition?
Actually, not really.  We had our Christmas tree stolen on Christmas Eve about 25 years ago and since then Christmas hasn't been a top priority in my family.  But Mr. P and I are trying to revive some semblance of a Christmas tradition right now!

4.  What are your 3 Christmas party beauty essentials?
Well, if I had attended a Christmas party, my three party essentials would be clear and glowing skin, a dark plumy purple eyeshadow with sparkles as an eyeliner, and malt/sangria colored lipstick.

5.  What's your favorite Christmas movie?
 Mr. P and I really enjoy watching the Christmas Day movie marathon of "A Christmas Story."

6.  Are you a giver or receiver?
I'm a giver!  I love receiving but I tend to go overboard with gifting and wrapping.  I'm always trying to find a way to wrap presents using the least amount of tape possible!

7.  Who will you be kissing under the mistletoe this year?
I kissed Mr. P and cuddled all our cats under our imaginary mistletoe.  :-)



Holly Jolly Holiday Tag

1.  Do you start your Christmas shopping on Black Friday or wait until the last minute?
My shopping season is between Black Friday and Christmas.  I don't usually go on Thanksgiving night to start Black Friday because Thanksgiving is sacred in my family.

2.  If you could be in any Christmas movie, what would it be?
I think I'd probably like to be in Home Alone! 

3.  Which do you like better: Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
Christmas Eve, hands down!  Christmas Day is nice but once Christmas Day has passed the Christmas season is officially over.

4.  When does your family put up your Christmas tree and who decorates it?
Well, my family hasn't had a Christmas tree in a long time, but Mr. P and I will be starting our own traditions next year!  So, I suppose Mr. P will put up the Christmas tree and we'll both decorate it in 2013!

5.  White lights or colored lights?
White lights!  They are so classic!

6.  Are you guilty of peeking at your presents or do you like the surprise?
I am a serial peeker!  I try and try to keep the surprise factor for as long as possible, but I just can't help it!

7.  Would you rather live in a gingerbread house or in Santa's Workshop?
Santa's Workshop!  The ultimate Christmas factory!

8.  Tell us you Christmas Eve traditions!
I think our family is transitioning to having a buffet meal together for Christmas Eve.

9.  If you could be under the mistletoe with anyone, who would it be?
Mr. P!!! 

10.  What tops your tree?
I'll tell you next year! 

11.  Can you name the 12 days of Christmas?
No, but I can sing the song. 

12.  Have you ever gone Christmas caroling?
Yes, at a retirement home when I was younger.  I didn't understand the significance when I was younger but I now do.

13.  Do you count down to Christmas?  If so, how may days are left?
T-355 days!!!

14.  What are some foods and treats you can count on having every holiday season?
Turkey with cranberry sauce!  Mashed potatoes and gravy!  These are some of my most favorite things.

15.  How has Christmas kept its magic for you as you've grown older?
I grew up without a strong sense of Christmas but Mr. P and I want to start a family and we really want our family to grow up with the best Christmas memories.  So, I guess preparing for the pitter patter of little kids is bringing back some Christmas magic for us!



Hope you all had a great New Year!  I hope I can revive this tag for next Christmas! 

Finished! December Products

Hi Everyone,

I hope you all had a great Christmas and are looking forward to the New Year!  Mr. P and I celebrated a very quiet Christmas with a second Thanksgiving feast with family and friends.  I got to meet my brother's girlfriend and I so hope she becomes my sister-in-law!  *fingers crossed!*

Okay, back to business.  :-)  I finished TWO products this month.

Tony Moly Eggpore Blackhead Out Oil Gel

I already did a product review on this product, which you can read about here.  Anyways, long story short, this product failed to remove or reduce any of my blackheads without extra help from other products.  What I discovered was that this product works really well as a makeup remover and massage oil.  It smelled like oranges, too.  

Bioderma Crealine H2O Makeup Remover

Linh from Blushology sent me a sample of her favorite makeup remover a while back.  And the product did not disappoint.  This has been one of the best makeup removers I've ever used and it never irritated my eyes!  I think I'm just going to have to use this from now on!

That's it.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful New Year!

Battle Mascara 9: CoverGirl Lash Exact Waterproof Mascara

Hi Everyone!  

I'm here with a Battle Mascara for this new CoverGirl Lash Exact waterproof mascara I bought a couple of weeks ago.  I've used it enough to have a good idea of what works and what doesn't work.

Behold, the before picture:

 

And now, the after picture:

 

Here are the product details:

 

So far, I'm loving this type of rubber bristle wand.  The bristles are short enough and spaced just right to deposit a good amount of mascara onto my lashes without clumps of product and space out my lashes.  

Curl:  A+

Lash Exact is great at holding a curl!  It lasts all day and even through a workout at the gym!

Length:  B

I don't think this mascara adds much to the length of my lashes as some other mascaras have.... *ahem* Majolica Majorca Lash Expander Frame Plus.

Volume:  A+

This is one of the better mascaras I've used that gives better-than-adequate results on volume.

Smudging:  C-

Even with primer and powder, this mascara does smudge after a few hours.  I usually have to touch up and wipe my under eye area by 4pm on a normal work day.

Clumping: A+

Clumping is just not a factor with this mascara.  The wand is perfect for getting just the right amount of product.  

Overall, I like this mascara.  It delivers in all the areas that are my top priority such as curl and volume.  I can live with the smudging because it just requires some maintenance during the day.  

I think this mascara would be perfect for ladies with long lashes and defined double eyelids. 

Has anyone else tried this mascara?  I'd love to know what you thought of this mascara, too!

Thanks for stopping by!

New Mascara! CoverGirl LashExact Waterproof Mascara

 

 

 

It seems I just can't go wrong with CoverGirl!  I have a new mascara to be all excited about.  :-)  Will post a Battle Mascara on this one soon.  What number am I on, now??

 

New Cleansing Products!

Hi Everyone!

Wow!  I can't believe it's already December!  I can definitely admit that 2012 has been a year filled with surprises, joy, and love.  I hope 2013 is just as great!

I've decided to post this entry as an answer to Linh's question on what my new cleansing products are.  

 

Linh introduced me to Bioderma a few months ago.  At the time, I was using an oil based Maybelline makeup remover so I just poured the Crealine H2O into a mason jar and stuck it in my fridge for a few months.  After a while, I just lost hope that I would ever finish that Maybelline makeup remover and picked up the Bioderma to add some spice to my cleansing routine.  

WOW!  I can honestly say that I am super duper impressed by this one.  I use it to remove eye makeup.  It removes everything very easily except for waterproof mascara, which I'm okay with because mascara that removes too easily usually are raccooners.  One of the neatest things about Bioderma Crealine H2O is that it doesn't sting, irritate my eyes, or leave behind that greasy feeling after use.  Even better, cold Crealine H2O acts as a great and refreshing cold compress when I'm ready to take off my makeup at the end of the day.

 

 

I just pulled out this Clarisonic Refreshing Gel Cleanser because it was just sitting around and not getting enough love.  I haven't used this enough to develop much of an opinion.  So far it cleanses all right.  Used with my Clarisonic Mia2, it leaves my skin feeling really soft, smooth, and clean.  

The Clarisonic Mia2 is a love/hate thing.  I love how it works to cleanse my skin.  I hate the automatic 20-20-10-10 second timer.  I always feel rushed because of the timer.  

 

 

I LOVE THIS!  I LOVE THIS!  I LOVE THIS!

I originally wanted to get the cleanser for brightening skin but am happy with this one for aging skin.  It says to use this at night to remove makeup and cleanse skin.  Truthfully, I use this morning and night because

1) it smells SO.  DARNED.  GOOD!

2) it leaves my skin looking and feeling younger, brighter, and luminous like porcelain.

3) I like to remove this cleanser with a hot face towel and my face towel smells like the spa!

4) no adverse reactions like dry skin or rashes or acne.

Not pictured here is my go-to Johnson's Head-to-Toe Baby Wash, which I always use whenever I feel like my other cleansers might have missed something.

That's it for this post on cleansers I use for my skincare.   I will probably post a product review on the Jurlique cleanser later on.

Good luck to my ladies still in school!  Have a safe, healthy, and wonderful holiday season!

:-)