Aspiring Ash

Current Skincare Products & Reviews : Miscellaneous

2012-01-23T21:02:00.000-07:00

Hi. My name is Ashley and I am a beauty product junkie.

And I'm also a dork...but that's not what this post about. This is about my obsession with beauty products! I was never into makeup or beauty products when I was a teenager. Which I guess was mostly due to me having no clue what was out there or how to use it. I shudder when I see pictures of my myself while I was in middle school through high school!

Most people don't know about my vast collection of products except for my poor husband ;) and my sisters. I'm always on the search for my holy grail product and while I've come close I still haven't settled. Here are some of the products that I am using right now.

Miscellaneous Skincare Products

I am in love with the Eye Makeup Remover by Neutrogena. I've purchased makeup remover by other brands and they just can't seem to remove waterproof makeup like this one can.

Definitely going to repurchase!

I bought the Deep Cleaning Astringent by Clean & Clear a year ago when I had the breakout of the century. My hormones were all out of wack and my chin had craters after craters of acne. I bought this hoping it would help and in someways it did but it was definitely too drying for my face. I plan on passing on astringent next time and just getting a simple acne spot treatment.

I bought the Alcohol Free Toner by Neutrogena hoping..well I guess I didn't know what I was hoping for. I had never used a toner before and thus had no idea why I was applying it. So it's sat unused in my cabinet for awhile. Is it lame that I just googled reviews for this product to find out what it's for? Haha. Apparently you use it after washing your face to pick up any remains of "dirtiness" and moisturize. Hmm...I suppose I should give this product another go and use it correctly. :)

The Blemish Clearing Spot Treatment by Avon is a good product. This product is pretty self explanatory and does what's advertised. It's helps calm my pizza face without turning it into flake city. I don't, however, purchase products from Avon....ever so I'll eventually need to find a drugstore product that works as well. Any suggestions?

Keep a look out for more of my skincare product reviews which are coming soon. (Including: Cleansers, Moisturizers, and Samples I've acquired)

What are your favorite skincare products?

Saltine Toffee

2012-01-22T18:58:00.001-07:00

Source: asoutherngrace.blogspot.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Ever since seeing this recipe on Pinterest I knew I HAD to make it! I grabbed my sister who hesitantly agreed to help. I told everyone in my family I was making it and everyone gave me the same disgusted look. "Saltine crackers? Really?"

But let me tell you, they were amazing! They tasted just like Toffee!

This is where it starts to look a little questionable! We just couldn't get over all the saltines.

But you just couldn't beat the final product. I'm pretty sure this is going to be a annual holiday treat from me!

And because I couldn't resist taking a pretty picture of the Saltine Toffees!

Sister Approved!

What a Wonderful Winter

2012-01-21T09:25:00.000-07:00

I know it's been quiet over here in the new year but work has been insane and I barely have had any time to spend with my husband or keep my house in order let alone blogging.

But I know I want to make my blog a priority this year. While I'm still trying to decide which direction I want this blog to go, I know I do want to post about my day to day life on here as well so that Shawn and I have something fun to look back on. I think about stuff everyday where I'm like, "I should take a picture and blog about this!" But my mind has been on other things.

Bare with me however and I'm excited to come back full force!

Ash

Making It Official!

2012-01-07T16:53:00.002-07:00

As you can tell I've been making lots of new changes around here and the biggest one is I finally purchased my own domain!

Make sure you change your bookmarks to

www.AspiringAsh.com

Yay!

Ash

1 Mile Challenge Day 2 + Resolutions

2012-01-02T22:44:00.001-07:00

Whew...day 2 is over! I'm ran super hard today and I'm afraid I beat my time by too much. Haha. I'm not sure I'll be able to beat that for a little while!

2012 Resolutions!

No Soda- Seriously. Zip nada. Not even diet! Any one want the remaining Diet Coke in my fridge??
Complete A Monthly Fitness Challenge- For January I'm obviously doing the Mile a Day challenge put on by the lovely ladies @ The Sweaty Betties. I plan on making a list and picking one each month. I have a short attention span and I think that doing 1 month challenges are exciting enough to make me want to keep doing them but short enough that I won't wuss out!
Reach My First Goal Weight of 145- I’m going to insure that this goal happens.
Reach My Ultimate Goal Weight of 125- This one is a little sketchy but I would be perfectly happy if it did!
Run My First Race - I have a few ladies who want to join me!
Beat My Chronic Back Pain- This one is going to be a bitch. Tons of yoga. Ton’s of stretching. Ton’s of icing and massages. Well..okay the massages part won’t be too hard. ;)
Have All Dishes Loaded in the Dishwasher Before Bed- Let’s face it. My house is a mess.
Blog My Little Heart Out- Up until this year, my blog has kind of been in the back of my mind and the least of my worries. But this year I discovered my passion for blogging and I love all the people I’ve met who share the same passions as I. (“Passions” was obviously the only word I could think of)
Post Vids on Youtube Again- I do have to admit though that this will be very difficult to do until I get a decent camcorder. My digital camera has awful video quality!
Appreciate My Husband More- Let’s face most days I’m just plain selfish. My husband does so much for me and sometimes it’s easy to take all of his kindness for granted. I need to be nicer.

So that it! Quite a few of them but most of them easy to achieve! What are your resolutions?

Ash

Note- I'm going to be changing my blog design! It feels too cluttered!!

January Mile a Day Challenge #1

2012-01-01T00:03:00.000-07:00

I've joined The Sweaty Betties in their January challenge to run or walk 1 mile every day this month!

Let's just say that after having almost 1 year go by without any consistent workout due to my back injury, it kicked my butt! But I can't wait to see the time go down and the mileage go up!

My resolutions will be up tomorrow! See you then!

Happy New Years!

2011-12-31T22:47:00.001-07:00

Hello lovely ladies! I wish I could tell you that I'm having a glamorous night out, bringing in the new year in style but alas, I am still sick.

Still battling pink eye ( hence the coke bottle glasses) and a cold that just won't quit. Frankly my husband is lucky I took a shower and got dressed today.

My husband is hanging with the guys bringing in the new year with a Star Wars marathon. I am not. I can watch Star Wars, don't be mistaken. But I can't watch more that one of the movies in a night...Ewan McGregor helps though!

I'm currently working on my goals for 2012 and am very excited to share them with you! They'll be up in the morning and I hope everyone has a fun (and safe) New Years!

Ash

Sick again??

2011-12-29T16:43:00.000-07:00

Sick again.

Pink eye this time.

Lame sauce.

Are you kidding me? I mean really. Are you kidding me? I am so over the sick thing. Blech.

I love all you guys but stay away from my house.

Why is it I'm always so motivated to do things when I can't? I have been so motivated to start running again but I haven't been able to since I've been consistently sick for a month.

We'll try next week!

Ash

Christmas Haulage 2011

2011-12-27T23:10:00.001-07:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and you were able to spend it it family and friends. My Christmas was fantastic. My mom and step dad drove over from Missouri and spent it with us.
The whole family was together!

Just so you know I didn’t mention anything about these to my husband He knows me so well. I feel like a giant pink muppet when I wear them and it just feels….right.

My favorite gift this year was definitely the Kindle Fire!! I’m loving all the apps!! It’s nice to be able to catch up on all my favorite blogs and sites without needing to start the computer.

My mom and step dad got me this!! A Shiatsu Pillow to help with the pain in my back. I’ve used it every day since I’ve gotten it and while my back is by no means cured, it’s something that I look forward to. I’m sure I drive people nuts always asking for a back rub.

Shawn and I also received new sheets and glassware. Yeah were classy now, no more plastic for us! (But well keep them just in case)
I also received a couple gift cards and will do a haul when I receive my stuff.
What was your favorite thing you got for Christmas??
Ash

Neutral Smokey Eye with ELF

2011-12-27T21:14:00.001-07:00

Hey all! So I don’t know if you remember but last year for Christmas my dear husband bought me the Master Kit from ELF. Which left me with hundreds and hundreds of products from them.

I like ELF products for the most part but they tend to be 50/50 on quality. I believe all of the products that came in the kit were from the Essentials line which I’m not a big fan. (Personally I would choose the Studio or Mineral lines.) I used some of products but most were pushed aside when I’d find a great quality product that I loved!

I’m starting to get more makeup in my collection and would like to start using up my ELF products. Let’s call it Project ELF Pan.

:D

Today I used the Butternut quad. (Don't forget a primer!)

It’s not too intense…I’m not brave enough to go too dark yet.

Here are the products I used on my face

Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse 2000 (which I’ve unfortunately hit pan on. This is my 3rd time buying it.)
Laura Geller- Blush N Brighten in Honey Dipped
Elf Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder (Studio Line)

For my lips I used Narcissus by NYX. I struggled getting an accurate representation of this color in pics though. Watch as I struggle.

This shows how creamy it is but the color is all wrong. I tried with different flashes and came up with the photo below. This is the most accurate shot I could get. It’s like….Barbie pink. :)

Now excuse me as I goof off!!!

Night all!
Ash

Stay tuned for my 2012 goals!!

Christmas Traditions Tag

2011-12-24T08:00:00.001-07:00

Merry Christmas! I can’t believe it’s already Christmas Eve. Hopefully you all have your shopping done and can focus the rest of your time on your family and friends!
I’m not quite there yet but have only 1 or 2 more things to get before I’m all ready. Did I mention I have absolutely no desire to go to the store!
So to waste more time avoiding the packed stores I thought I’d do a Christmas tag from Char!
CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS TAG:
Which Holiday do you celebrate?
Christmas
What are you doing for the holidays this year?
Probably staying at our house for the morning and then we’ll head over to my sister's for our meals and gift exchanges.
Any family traditions?
When I was younger, we’d always have Christmas at my mom’s house and one of our traditions was that we would a get a group gift (ornaments, blankets, etc) that we would be able to open on Christmas Eve. My husband and I haven’t really done that yet but we have been pretty consistent at buying us a family ornament every year and dating it.
What is most important to you about the holidays?
Seeing my family. Thankfully my mom and step dad are in town so that makes it that much easier!
Favorite Holiday Drink?
Hot chocolate I suppose although I haven’t had it for Christmas in forever. We tend to rock the eggnog but I don’t like adding soda to it.
Candy cane or Gingerbread men?
Actually it would be chocolate! But if I had to choose: candy cane. I do not like gingerbread and unless I’m starving never eat it.

Favorite Holiday/Christmas song?
When I was in Choir I loved singing Carol of the Bells. I think that is one of the best to hear performed by a big choir. I also love Sleigh Ride and Jingle Bell Rock for upbeat fun songs…. never mind don’t make me choose!

Weirdest gift you have received?
I can’t recall. Nothing too weird stands out in my mind.

Have you ever made a snowman?
Absolutely! Not recently but occasionally we get a hefty amount of snow to work with!

Favorite winter fragrance?
I like most Pine scents or something Pumpkin if it’s not to sickly sweet.
What is at the top of your list this Christmas?
A KindleFire!

Favorite holiday destination?
…Jersey. Still can’t get over my love for that place. I can only imagine it looks amazing lit up with Christmas lights and snow.

Favorite ornament of decoration?
I can never get enough of lights. You must have the lights!
Are you a late or early Christmas shopper?
I got everything in the middle or December but held off on stocking stuffers until yesterday. So I guess I tend to be a late shopper.

Who usually cooks holiday dinners?
We tend to have the entire family over so it’s usually potluck and everyone brings their favorite/specialty!

Have you ever gone Christmas caroling?
I honestly think I have but must have repressed it. I’ve also gone spring caroling ( don’t ask, but know it’s as equally humiliating!) I have however been one of the people at the door of a Wal-Mart ringing their bells and asking for donations. We decided to sing instead of just asking for money and had a pretty great time!

Do you live where it snows?
Yeah usually. We haven’t really got any this year though. Still waiting for a big snow storm.

One thing that makes you happiest at Christmas?
I love seeing people’s faces when they open presents!

What do you want most for Christmas?
I think I answered this already but I’d also like a new camera!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Friday Fancies: White Christmas

2011-12-23T18:40:00.001-07:00

I was totally and completely planning on being more active

on my blog but things have occurred that I can't talk

about on here. I'm dealing with it in my own ways but

unfortunately blogging has been in the back of my mind.

The page has been theoretically turned however and I'm

ready to get back on track.

This has to be one of my favorite things to do every week!

It's the ultimate window shopping experience! Head on

over to Long Distance Loving to check out the other outfits!

Merry Christmas Eve Eve!!

Christmas Wish List 2011

2011-12-18T21:45:00.003-07:00

I'm having much too fun with Polyvore! I know it's been around
for awhile and I've dabbled but it's finally making sense!
I'm expensive this year! Goodness gracious!

Christmas Wish List 2011 by ashley-vanhorn featuring Hello Kitty

Hello kitty
$2.99 - amazon.com

glitter models own pack of nail polish - beauty - gifts - women -...
£10 - riverisland.com

OPI Nail Varnish - Rainbow Connection 15ml Health & Beauty |...
£11 - hqhair.com

Glitzerland - OPI - Gold - Nail Care - Beauty - Fashion NELLY.COM...
£135 - nelly.com

Amazon Kindle Fire by Office Depot
$200 - officedepot.com

Nikon D90 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-105m... : Target
$1,200 - target.com

New Me

2011-12-18T16:24:00.001-07:00

2012 is the year for big changes! I want to increase my confidence,
finally lose the weight and take better care of my home and
belongings! This is my dream outfit. I couldn't imagine wearing
anything but the accessories but maybe this will be
my "goal" outfit!
New Me by ashley-vanhorn featuring skinny fit jeans

Vince sequin tank top
$119 - barneys.com

DVb Victoria Beckham skinny fit jeans
$210 - net-a-porter.com

Zara heel booties
$100 - zara.com

Melie Bianco slouch handbag
$110 - endless.com

Crown Me Already - OPI - Silver Glitter - Nail Care - Beauty - Fashion...
£135 - nelly.com

Missing You

2011-12-17T18:19:00.002-07:00

Hey blogger friends. How are you? I miss you.

I have been getting sick then getting better then getting sick again.

I have so many things I want to share but I just don't feel up to it right now.

Will talk soon!

Love,
Ash

Ashley's Husband

2011-12-03T20:58:00.001-07:00

   Hello My name is Shawn. My wife is sick and asked me to update her blog for her.....oh the things I do for her. So to start out, I never actually read these things nor do I know the first thing about "blogging". she told me to write about anything...well I AM a bigtime gamer so I could sit here and bore you with a gaming review but yea then she'd kill me. I could give a history lesson because I am a history major but then yea YOU would kill me so instead I'm going to briefly write this teasing her about christmas;

   My Dearest Ashley,

    I know exactly what I am getting you but you will NEVER know until the day of nor will I give you a single hint. Now you could try your normal puppy dog face method or your many other little cute things you do but I'm gonna enjoy torturing you this entire month :) No matter how much you beg angel you won't get a word out of me and I will enjoy this, you will hate me and it WILL be worth it until christmas day ;)

Back to Ashley's readers....for the month of December you can help me with this game...Everyday remind Ashley that I have a secret...tell her I told you what it is but you won't tell her. It'll be fun trust me! Now if you'll excuse me I need to post this before she comes in the office. Merry Christmas all!

P.S. she told me to add a pic of me before I started...I like this one.

Zoya Noel

2011-12-02T21:27:00.001-07:00

This is Zoya's Noel! It's a pretty metallic blue. I was not very excited when I saw I recieved the blue shade though as I am a pale girl. Pale does not go well with my skin tone. However, I did have a few people compliment me on the shade.

Eventually I added some glitter to it and it looked like a starry sky. No pic this time though!

Have a great weekend!

Wishing We Were in New Jersey

2011-12-01T22:47:00.001-07:00

We're back from Jersey!

It was a fantastic trip and I would have done anything to have stayed. It was so nice to meet and get to know Shawn's family. I wish I could just live with them forever.

I ended up reading a lot but it was great. I finished two blogging books and am ready to take my blog to the next level!! I ended up writing most of my plans on the back of advertisements but what works works right??

We hung out in the hotel room for a bit but spent most of our time at Shawn's Aunt Tina and Uncle Mark's. Aren't they precious? :)

We spent a large amount of time driving around and by the last day we could drive home without using the directions from Map Quest! We only got lost once so win for us!

This is my buddy Duncan. He spent a lot of time snuggling up to my feet. I refuse to even think that my feet may have been stinky. I think his kitty senses could tell I am a good person and the fabric on my flats were comfy. That is all!

Umm...were you aware you're not allowed to pump your own gas in New Jersey? We weren't. Were you also aware that you don't tip them for doing so? We weren't and that boy sure got a nice one!

We had a great time and we can't wait to go back!

My Memories Review and Giveaway

2011-11-22T13:09:00.001-07:00

I was given the wonderful opportunity to review the popular digital scrapbooking program My Memories Suite for free! They also provided me with a My Memories Suite software to giveaway to one of my lovely followers!

I've attempted to scrapbook in the past and it was sometimes expensive to buy my favorite pages and "embellishments" over and over again.

With digital scrapbooking software you can use the same pages and embellishments as many times as you want without worrying that you'll run out and need to find/buy more.

Another great thing is their website MyMemories.com. They have a whole section of templates and layouts that are completely free! I love free!

You can really do anything with it. Here is a page I made:

As you can tell I'm still learning. I don't want it to be too crowded but it seems a little empty no?

It was a little overwhelming when I first opened the program. I would have loved to have had a tutorial pop up on the system the first time I used it. But their website is full of tutorials, how to's, and forums to answer your questions.

It's $39.97 but worth every penny especially with all the free templates you can download. And it's compatible with any digital scrapbooking items you may already own.

Now, onto the giveaway!

Rules:

You must be a follower on Google Friend Connect, which is located in the upper left.
You need to leave a separate comment for each entry.
Make sure your email address is in your comments

Entry #1-Go to MyMemories.com and pick out your favorite digital paper pack or layout then come back here and tell me what your favorite one is with your email!

Entry #2- Share this giveaway on Twitter and leave me a comment with your screen name!

Entry #3- Like my Facebook page and post your Facebook name in the comments!

Entry #4- Post a blog on this giveaway and leave me the link to the post in the comments!

Remember that each entry will be an individual comment and should have your email address in each one.

Visit My Memories and enter the coupon code STMMMS77125 at checkout to take $10 off the My Memories Suite software download and $10 to use on digital designs and papers!

This giveaway ends on Sunday December 11th!

Thanks and good luck!

Blog- http://blog.mymemories.com/
Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/pages/MyMemories/140359372717593
Twitter- http://twitter.com/#!/mymemoriessuite

Recipes: Shepherd's Pie

2011-11-20T14:57:00.001-07:00

For my last Bountiful Baskets, I received a large bag of potatoes and 2 bags of green beans. So much veggies and since we're leaving on Tuesday I had to use them as fast as I could! I decided on making Shepherd's Pie. I think it's pretty much exactly like any other Shepherd's Pie recipe you'll find online.

1lb ground beef
1 cup onion
green beans (how ever much you want!)
2 cans of tomato soup

Cook in a pan. Then poor into a dish. Cover with mashed potatoes then top with cheese.

I baked it for 30 minutes @350 degrees.

It's super delicious! I could probably eat it for the rest of my life.

NotD: Zoya’s Shay

2011-11-19T14:37:00.000-07:00

Did I ever mention how much I love nail polish?

No?

I do.

I own too much of it, but definitely not enough.

This week I decided to go a little softer and more natural and tried Zoya’s Shay. It’s a gorgeous nude shade and I only needed two coats. I couldn’t help myself and added some glitter to my nail polish.

Did I ever mention how much I love glitter?

No?

I do.

Versatile Blog Award!

2011-11-18T11:20:00.001-07:00

I've received my first blogger award! It was given to me Char who has a great beauty blog! I'm excited to share it with others!

Here are the rules:

1. You have to thank the person who gave you the award and link back to their blog.

2. You then share 7 facts about yourself.

3. You have to send the award on to 15 other bloggers whose blogs you appreciate and then let them know that they have been given the award.

Here are 7 fun facts about me!

I suffer from a sleeping disorder called Sleep Paralysis. It's scary stuff but I've learned to handle it and rarely have an episode.
I could be called a gamer.. Hehe I spend much time playing my husbands Xbox game like Halo, Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and Skyrim.
I've been totally and completely obsessed with makeup and beauty product for about 2 years. Obsessed I tell you. Don't believe me? Ask my husband
I go through phases where I love to clean!! I am currently not in one...
I am in love with my Kindle! I used to read all the time when I was younger. Nose in a book at all times. I lost that when I got into high school. But with the kindle every book is at my fingers!
I love change! I know most people are scared of change but I love it! I thrive on change. I like to move and go knew places and meet new people.
I've been blogging for 3ish years and have finally found my passion for it. I've committed.

15 Favorite Bloggers

Changes are a Comin

2011-11-17T10:42:00.000-07:00

My husband and I have great, no, fabulous news, that unfortunately I cannot share for a few months. And no, I'm not pregnant. Haha.

I'm in such a great mood that I'm simply going to leave you with this:

Going to Jersey

2011-11-16T22:50:00.001-07:00

My mother-in-law is getting married next week.

My husband and I need to leave town at 4am on the 23rd to get to the airport by 8, where we will be taking a nonstop flight to New Jersey!

I'm a little nervous. I mean, New Jersey comes with a lot of preconceived notions. Right Snooki??

When I spoke with Shawn's uncle he made sure to tell me that New Jersey isn't the "Jersey Shore" and I'm excited to check it out.

This will be my first time meeting any of Shawn's extended family. My first Thanksgiving away from my family. I don't really get home sick and I'm not upset about being away from my family for one Thanksgiving. I'm psyched to see what other peoples traditions are like.

I hope I make a good impression.

Jersey here we come.

Hunger Games

2011-11-15T20:49:00.001-07:00

I CANNOT WAIT! I think I should read the books again!

November Birchbox 2011

2011-11-14T22:48:00.001-07:00

I finally got my November Birchbox!! I was starting to wonder if it was going to show up or not, but it finally arrived.

Here is a picture of everything. The orange scent is alright but not something I would ever wear. I'm excited to try the mud mask and toothpaste!

But this is what I'm really excited to try! This shade is called Noel by Zoya and it's a pretty metallic blue color. I'm afraid I'm much too pale to pull off a dark blue but we shall see.

Happy Birchboxing!

Food of the Week

2011-11-13T20:53:00.001-07:00

I didn't leave my house today.

True story!

Yesterday I woke up and it felt like I had a sunburn all over my neck, back and sides. I'm not sure if it's because of the cortisone shots, my new anti-inflammatories, or what but I could barely move.

Thankfully today it's feeling better. Sore, but better.

My husband needed to get some homework done, so while he was sitting on the couch getting some knowledge, I ran on the treadmill while watching Biggest Loser on Netflix! It's almost as if Jillian were there herself!

Here's a few pics of the tasty food I made and enjoyed this week

My younger sis tends to drop by a few nights a week and likes to help me cook. First we had Mexican night and made enchiladas and then used up my 2 remaining avocados with the smallest bowl of guacamole over!

I also had a few apples left over from my last Bountiful Basket so we made some apple pie! Not healthy mind you!

See...told you it wasn't healthy!! Look at all the sugar and butter.

This was my fabulous dinner tonight. Margarita pizza is the best! I finally found my taste for tomatoes and I have to have it on everything now.

Bountiful Baskets

2011-11-12T15:28:00.001-07:00

Have you heard of Bountiful Baskets? You should definitely check it out and see if your State/City is involved! This is our second basket that we've received and this one looks great! A bag of potatoes, sweet potatoes, 2 bags of apples, grapes, bananas, squash, black berries, kiwis, persimmons and oroblancos!

Did I mention this cost me like $16??

If you have it where you live, try it!

If you don't? See about getting it started! It's perfect for us poor folks that want some cheap fruits and veggies.

I'm excited to try the persimmons and oroblancos. Never tried either so a little nervous. But I'll be brave.

Promise.

Stylish Pins of the Week

2011-11-11T20:35:00.003-07:00

http://pinterest.com/pin/216946907019318464/

http://pinterest.com/pin/117445502752123387/

http://pinterest.com/pin/155092780887170123/

http://pinterest.com/pin/117445502752123387/

Getting Cortisone Shots

2011-11-10T21:07:00.000-07:00

I'm trying not to only focus on my back pain on this blog but you need to understand. When I wake up I'm in pain, I go to work, I'm in pain, I go to bed, I'm in pain. It sucks kids. It's always on my mind.

I've had more emotional breakdowns this week than I have in my entire life! I hate crying at work I do.

An angel came into my life and helped me with my next step in treatment. Today I got Cortisone shots in my back. Three to be exact. I didn't cry during the shots but hell they hurt. My doctor did not sound too optimistic that it would help which immediately made me pessimistic.

I ended up leaving work early to come home and lay on an ice pack. (Special thanks to another angel!)

I did however get another Rx, hopefully this one will work.

My back may not be getting better any time soon but I know I have the love and support of my friends and family. I promise I will try to write about something else!

Ps- I SO wanted to take a picture of the big ass syringe but I left my cell at work.

Silver Lining

2011-11-09T22:30:00.000-07:00

Today was a long agonizing day at work. I felt like I was hit on all sides and my back only made me that much irritated. I'm getting to my breaking point. I'm exhausted. I wish people would grow up, be adults, stop stirring shit up.

The only thing that could make this day better? Venting with a friend and this:

Happy Tuesday

2011-11-08T18:49:00.000-07:00

This girl must really love what she does to spend that long on one music video. I hope to be that positive and passionate about my life.

It was a very long day at work and my day was blah. My house is a mess and all I want to do is waste my night playing PvZ and surfing the net. It kills me that it's dark outside when I go in to work and dark when I get out. It's S.A.D weather. Boo :(

Aspiring Ash is on Facebook!

2011-11-07T22:14:00.001-07:00

It's true!

Aspiring Ash finally has a page on Facebook!

"Like" the page and you can stay up to date on what I've been doing as well as my blog posts.

I'd love to be able to interact with you there!!

Plants vs Zombies and Running!

2011-11-07T22:02:00.000-07:00

Help!

I've been sucked in!

Into the world of Plants VS Zombies!!

Does anyone actually turn this game off? Share with me your tips.

Why yes I should be running....

When I first heard of this game I thought it looked boring and very confusing. I've only played the demo download on the computer but I'm surprised how massive the demo is. I may have to ask for the Xbox version from Santa so Shawn and I can have some zombie fighting co-op...ness.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In other news. I finally got my butt on the treadmill. I only went a mile and mixed in walking because lets face it, I haven't been running in a long time and need to build back my stamina.

I can't stop myself from remembering how much easier working out and running used to be. It's like starting over and it sucks. I get frustrated that I can't go as hard as I want to or as long. But I have found a silver lining; working out isn't making my back hurt anymore than it already does.

I can't believe it's only Monday.

Living with Chronic Pain

2011-11-06T08:47:00.001-07:00

Defining "chronic pain" is a touchy subject and you can find different time frames of when "acute" becomes "chronic. Some say 3-6 months, others 12.

I am at 9 months.

My back randomly started hurting in February 2011. A few girls that I work with and I left town to go shopping that day. My back started hurting a few hours before we left. It progressively got worse as the day went on. We went into Target and got me some Icy Hot Packs and the girls helped me apply one in the bathroom. I remember them telling me that there was a huge bump in my back, when I had pointed to where it was hurting. They both were afraid that I had a rib out. I spent most of the trip in the car crying and when we finally got home I barely moved from the couch the rest of the weekend.

Fast forward to now. I've seen my physician, a massage therapist, physical therapist, and an orthopedic surgeon. I've had everyone poke and prod my back and have had x-rays taken. All came to agree that the bump in my back was not a rib but a mass of knots. A massive strain. The pain is only on my left side and runs all the way up my left shoulder blade into my neck.

My left arm has also recently began to bother me and is hurting all the time. I used to get some relief on the weekends when I would get a break from work but now the pain is all the time. I can't find a good position to sleep in at night and it keeps me up a lot.

All of the doctor's I've seen recommend that I have regular massages, but let's be honest. I cannot afford monthly massages, let alone weekly. I've also been told to start taking yoga to stretch out the muscles in my body. The orthopedic surgeon gave me a Rx of anti inflammatory drugs and recommended that if the pain doesn't stop I may want to consider having cortisone injections in my back ( which have a 33% chance fixing the problem permanently, 33% temporarily relieving my pain, or 33% may not work at all)

My insurance does not cover the orthopedic surgeon and while I would prefer to see him I need to buckle down and start doing everything that's been recommended before starting cortisone shots.

Here's where I've been a bad kid:

I've been flakey with my Rx mainly because the cons almost outweigh the pros. Plus I'm forgetful.

I haven't tried yoga, because I'm not flexible at all and hate every minute of it.

I haven't been getting massages because I can't afford them.

Starting Today

I've set daily morning and evening alarms on my phone to remind me to take my Rx.

I'm going to start running today and will follow up with yoga daily. I can't get more flexible by curling up in a ball and praying for the pain to go away.

My sister said she will do yoga with me to encourage me and offered to give massages after the yoga sessions.

I'm need to use an ice pack daily, if not multiple times.

I've been wimping out of my workouts but I'm trying to be stronger. I'm trying to whine less. I'm trying to be my old self.

I need someone to believe that I'm going to get better. I guess it should be me.

Blogging Is Tricky-Finding My Niche

2011-11-05T00:44:00.003-06:00

I started NaBloPoMo this month just to get into the habit of posting daily and trying to be more creative in my posts.

It's only Day 5 and I've already learned a big lesson.

I don't know what my blog is. Right now I'm just writing random things to get the posts out, which is really a waste of my time and a waste of your time as well.

I read so many blogs that focus on so many different things like fitness, weight loss, running, make up, being a mommy, recipes, daily outfits..so on and so forth. I've come to realize that I don't know which niche my blog belongs to. I have so many different readers looking for something different on my blog and I don't know where I want to start to focus in on.

Let's face the facts, I'm much to poor to be a OOTD girl and a makeup guru.

My passion has always been for fitness and health and for a while there, my blog focused on it. I guess I've just shrunk away since my back pain started. Does it classify as "Chronic" pain yet?? I wimp out early and whine too much. I want to believe that working out will only strengthen my jacked up muscles. I get this fiery burn in my chest when I think about working out and eating healthy. It's what I want to do with my life.

I'm going to learn to live with my injury instead of hiding from life because of it.

You may notice in the next week or so my blog posts will start to focus on health, fitness, and weight loss. I feel like my writing will be more passionate, more me.

Now don't get me wrong, you'll always see periodic postings about my makeup, clothes, or nails because let's face it I am sort of a beauty product junkie. But it's not who I am.

You're what you think about all day. I'm fitness and health. Now I just have to act instead of always thinking.

What are you?

Always Playing Catch Up

2011-11-04T10:24:00.001-06:00

Obviously my little sis it back in town and I have been avoiding doing anything that requires work since she's been back. That means my laundry hasn't been done. I haven't worked out. My sink is full of dishes.

And my Reader....yes my reader. Google Reader is flashing the dreaded (1000+) symbol at me and I have every urge to to click the "Mark All as Read" but I will continue to try to get through all the blogs.

If I haven't commented on your blog in a while this is why. Bare with me as I try to calm the chaos.

Cleopatra Makeup

2011-11-03T21:55:00.000-06:00

I had to dress up for Halloween at work and my husband volunteered to pick up a costume while he was out of town. He ended up coming home with a Cleopatra costume and I was excited to play around with my makeup.

Here's what I came up with

November Goals

2011-11-02T19:34:00.001-06:00

I'm a day late but I figured better late than never to share my goals this month!

1. Complete NaBloPoMo
Let me be completely honest. I've always wanted to participate in NaNoWriMo but unfortunately that's not realistic for me. Creating a writing a novel in 30 days hurts me brain...and honestly I'm just not that creative! But with NaBloPoMo writing everyday in my blog is definitely a habit that I'd like to pick up! Check it out and sign up here!

2.Complete This Month's Fitness Challenge
I've got a list of over 20 things that I want to complete whether it be certain exercise videos, programs, or gaining strength. I'm going to pick one randomly every month!
This month's challenge is a nonstop 5k!

3. Wash My Face Every Night Before Bed
I used to be sooooo good at this! Ever since vacation I've been slacking and my face is definitely feeling the nastiness!

4. Do Dishes Before Bed Every Night

5. Make Bed Every Day

The last two are self explanatory but I think my goals this months are nice a different. A way to work on all facets of my life!

I will be checking at the end of month to let you all know how I did!

What are you goals for November?

Like a Virgin: Homemade Salsa

2011-11-01T19:20:00.001-06:00

My sissy is back! Yay! She's been in Missouri for 6 months and I've missed her so. How did we spend her first full day back, cooking of course.

We made salsa, spruced up Ramen, and Knock You Naked Brownies. I only managed to grab photos of the salsa though.

I've never made homemade salsa before so we decided to take a swing at it.

We were so proud!!….and it didn’t taste half bad either.

Eff, Marry, Kill Linkup!

2011-10-27T07:53:00.004-06:00

Today marks my first time participating in Eff, Marry, Kill. These are hilarious!

I've been catching up on Grey's Anatomy lately so these guys are who I'm watching everyday.

Eff! He started out as a player but I love that he's growing up a little with Lexie. (I'm still behind, don't ruin it for me!) Plus...hottie!

Marry! Other than his PTSD Owen Hunt is all around perfect. I think he became my favorite character when he walked in wearing camo... Seriously?? Come on, give a girl a break! He's always willing to go the extra mile and he reminds me of my own husband!

Kill. Tsk tsk tsk....oh Shepherd. I've hated you since day one. You're super cocky and you always think you know best. Not attractive. Not attractive at all.

Come on! Play along! Go link up!

______________________________________________

Edit!!! Oh man! I totally forgot about Karev....that guys a pain in my butt.
Next time Karev...next time.

Friday Fav

2011-10-21T22:51:00.000-06:00

Vacation 2011

2011-10-16T22:34:00.002-06:00

Vacation is supposed to be relaxing. Unfortunately in my case, it also made me LAZY hehe.
We went on a cruise to the Southern Caribbean and it was wonderful. My husband is from Florida and we’ve been trying to move back there for years, so going on a cruise made my Florida itch come back!

Here are some random highlights of the trip:

We spent a lot of time in airports. I passed out 6 hours after this pic was taken in another airport. Thankfully Shawn didn’t take pics.

San Juan, Puerto Rico. We walked to the beach that was a couple blocks from our hotel.

This is the place I was stung by a jelly fish. Awesome!

We should have gotten a pic of the bartender Ronnie. Best bartender ever.
Well that’s it, I’m sorry if it took too long for the pics to load but honestly these is the least amount I could share with you guys =)
I’m going to start posting consistently again. Yay!

Back and Back!

2011-10-16T13:53:00.000-06:00

Oh my gooses. You'd never know I used to write in here consistently!

I went on a fabulous vacation and when I got back I lost all motivation to blog and workout!

Today that changed.

I'm going to be posting a blog on my vaca, my current hair challenge, and the P90X challenge that starts tomorrow!

But first, I shall clean my house. See you in a few hours!

Fire Up For Fall: Week One

2011-09-19T18:22:00.002-06:00

I’m so happy to get this challenge started. I am a little worried because I am leaving for vacation this Friday and won’t be back until October 3rd. So I’m trying to figure out how I can work this out.

*Psst, I’m stretching my sore muscles out!

What are your goals for the Fall Challenge?

Lose 18 lbs. I am currently 168 and that would take me down to 150 lbs. Definitely doable in 10 weeks.
Complete the 100 Pushup Challenge. I have absolutely no upper body strength and I’ve wanted to do this for a long time
Keep a food diary. I’m not going to start counting calories yet but I think by writing my food down I’ll be more conscious of what I’m putting into my body and how much.
Be able to tough my toes. I’ve never been able to comfortable touch my toes. I have close to no flexibility and I think that flexibility is a big part of a fit body.
Follow the workout schedule that I’ve written.

Why have you chosen those goals?

I’ve picked these goals because I thinks it’s well rounded. I think that 18 lbs. is difficult but attainable in 10 weeks. I want to work on my upper body strength. I want to be more flexible. By following the workout schedule I’ve written it will help keep me on track.

What have you done this week that's made you feel fabulous?

This week I’ve been more conscious of what I’m eating and am making better choices. The main thing I’ve done is not eating when I’m bored!! I call that a big win. Yay for no mindless snacking!

What do you think will be your biggest challenge in reaching your goals?

Sticking to it I think. I have a lot of fire and motivation in the beginning then it begins to dwindle and I need to learn to push through when I don’t want to.
I’m also kind of worried about my vacation. I’m going on a cruise. So. Much. Food.

Fun Question! Where in the World do you live? What's amazing about it?

I live in beautiful Moab, Utah! We are the “Adventure Capitol of the World.” So many amazing things to do here; hiking, biking, jeeping, river rafting, rock climbing. I’m always amazed (and sometimes agitated) with how many tourist we get every year.

Working Out and Vacation Ideas

2011-09-18T13:35:00.002-06:00

I feel different. I feel like everything has finally clicked in my head.
Once I got over being sick, I’ve been working out and eating right. It’s amazing what even 2 days of eating right and exercising can do. I’m not as bloated and honestly nothing beats the feeling of sore muscles after a hard workout.

I’ve been huffing it out with Jillian Michaels this week. Been doing a cardio/circuit video plus another one for toning. I am thinking about making a page specifically for my workouts, give more detailed explanations.

Today I did Ripped in 30 Level 1, followed by Killer Buns and Thighs Level 1. I love them both!

So this coming Friday, my husband and I are heading out for our vacation on a cruise! We're both super excited to get out of town but I'm a little concerned with exercising. The rooms on a cruise are usually very small so I can't do too much in the room itself. I know that there is a workout area but I guess I'm just nervous to go off by myself. Guess I'll just have to outside of my bubble and do it! Wish me luck on finding it!

Change Is Good

2011-09-17T16:26:00.003-06:00

I turned 24 this July. It’s official. I’m almost a quarter of a century old. Scary.

It’s crazy to think that 10 years ago I was 14. I would like to think that I’ve changed since then. I’m more outgoing. I’m more daring. I’m more confident. I have higher self esteem.

But when I really think about it, I’m don’t. If anything I have less confidence and self esteem.

I can’t allow myself to live the rest of my life hating myself. My husband and I are planning to have kids in the future but before I can bring a child in this world I need to be able to love myself entirely. I deserve to love myself. My husband deserves to be with someone who doesn’t constantly complain but never changes anything. My future future children deserve a mom they can look up to.

If you’ve read my blog, you’ve seen that I’m a planner. I talk the talk but never actually accomplish my goals. I’m not a doer. I’m lazy and a procrastinator. In order to have a happy fulfilling life you need to be a doer, otherwise you’ll spend your entire life waiting for things that aren’t going to happen.

This year I’m going to work on improving myself.

I want to be comfortable in my own skin.

My biggest insecurity is my appearance. I know I’m not alone. I’ve lived most of my life overweight. I’ve moaned, whined, and cried about it but have I done anything about it?

No. I’ve planned the hell out, of course. I’m a weekend warrior who looses steam and motivation quickly.

I know that there are those who think that I shouldn’t have to change to love myself more. I disagree. If you want to be different you need to change. What do I need to change?

I need to start paying attention to what I put into my body and hold myself accountable. I need to exercise my body consistently. I have many physical issues (such as my knees and back). I know that getting stronger and not being sedentary can help my pain.

In my usual fashion, I’ve planned everything out. But it’s going to be different now. I’m a doer.

My Beauty/Fashion Blogger Plea

2011-09-16T21:59:00.001-06:00

I’m in a rut. I need to get out and I need your help.

Fellow beauty bloggers! I’m in a beauty rut. I feel like taking on a beauty/fashion challenge of some sort.

Like maybe a nail polish challenge or the 30 Day of Outfits idea. Something that would push me out of my comfort zone.

Are there any challenges going on that you know of?

Help help help!

My Dirty Secret?

2011-09-15T14:11:00.003-06:00

Hi my name is Ashley and I am a Grade A Germaphobe.

Which is a surprise because my house is constantly a mess. But don’t let that fool you, I am constantly aware of bacteria or dirtiness. I’m not sure when I became this way but I’m thinking this may have originally been triggered by me working as a dental assistant.

I washed my hands 50 times a day, no joke. Before and after dealing with patients. Before and after I ate. After the restroom. I always checked and rechecked patients charts. I did not want to get sick. I did not want to get hepatitis. I did not want to get HIV. We wore gloves, masks, safety glasses (well I did) and I usually wore a long sleeve top under my scrubs to keep my skin away from blood or saliva.

Then it followed me home. I wouldn’t let my husband kiss me after work, before I showered. I only washed my scrubs with other scrubs and ran the hottest water my machine could handle.

I am constantly aware of when people don’t wash their hands. I get sick when people leave a public bathroom without washing their hands. I don’t touch the faucets or door handle after I wash my hands. I use paper towels.

I also became hyperaware after watching an episode of Scrubs. Usually it’s hilarious but there are a few moments where you learn something.

Short clip of how bacteria can spread.

This is bigger than being too lazy to wash your hands for 1 minute. Think about your family, your children, your friends.

This came out more PSA than I wanted but please, wash your hands!

Crochet Along with Maybe Matilda

2011-09-14T22:19:00.002-06:00

Fall is in the air. It makes me want to decorate. It makes me want to light pumpkin scented candles. It makes me want to bake. It makes me want to create!
And just in time is this fantastic Crochet Along project with Maybe Matilda.
I’ve been crocheting on and off for a year or so. I can make washcloths, scarves, and flowers. Now that the weather is finally cooling down, I have an itch to start crocheting again.
I wish I could do more and with the wonder of bloggers and YouTube, it’s much easier to be self taught. Books are great but you can find so many unique patterns online. Plus video instructions are much easier for me to learn from.
We voted. This is the project we will be making:
The Time Out Cowl

So I ran to the store the other day and bought some majorly overpriced yarn. Ahh, the beauty of living in a small town. I already have the recommended hook so I spent most of my time deciding on a color. There wasn’t a large selection and they didn’t have the recommended weight which is lame but I’ll work with what they have I guess.

It’s a pretty sea foam color. I really wanted to just get black or gray but decided I should have some color in my life. BTW excuse the nasty hair and makeupless face…I came home sick today. It’s legit.
This week, Rachel is going over the stitches we should know and time to practice. So there is still time!! Check it out and link up.

Are You Sure Today Isn’t Monday?

2011-09-06T19:40:00.003-06:00

It sure felt like Monday to me.
Last night I felt really motivated and decided to set the alarm at 5:30am and get my workout done before I had to work at 7:30. When I woke up, it was just barely light out but I could tell it was well past 5:30. I guessed 6:30-7:00ish and walked around the bed to look at the alarm clock.
7:32.
It looked dark out because it had been raining. I may have sworn a bit. My husband insisted he turned the alarm on last night so we've agreed that it's likely he turned it off as soon as it began to beep. I went to find my phone to call my coworker and let her know I was going to be a little late. I looked and I looked. I couldn't find my cell phone! Just what I needed right? I got dressed as quickly as I could, semi straightened my hair, pulled my bangs aside, and left for work. Did I mention I totally forgot to put on make up.
Sad to say I looked like this the whole day:

Did I make you yawn yet?
I came home for lunch and my husband and I spent a large majority of it tearing the house apart looking for my phone. No luck. I trudged back to work, finished my day, and with Shawn at class for most of the night, I continued to look for my phone.
My house is now a wreck. See Here:

And Here:

I was near my breaking point. I gave in and posted on Facebook that I was phoneless and if needed to be contacted, Facebook was the way. Then I got to thinking. I ALSO brushed my teeth last night in the guest bathroom! I went into the bathroom and there it was. Phew!
I love my phone so much!

We’re BFFs! (Just don’t let my phone know I just ordered my upgrade..)
Now I have a giant mess to clean up.
Ashley

Losing Weight on Youtube

2011-09-04T19:53:00.000-06:00

When it comes to weight loss, I've found that the Weight Loss Community on YouTube is very encouraging. You meet lots of people and can physically see them complete challenges and cheer them on. I love seeing who they are and how they really express themselves.

That's where I'm going to be taking my weight loss journey. I will do occasional updates here but not too many.

Losing This Weight!

2011-08-16T20:07:00.000-06:00

Okay it's official! I am no longer a dental assistant. It kind of makes me sad because I was very comfortable and good at my job. But I couldn't handle my back problem any more.

I moved up front and it has been a little over two weeks since I last assisted and this is the first week that my back hasn't been in pain 24/7 since February. I can't believe how much weight I've gained since my back began to hurt. Most days I would just come home from work and sit on the couch, unable to really move. This would progress to depression and eating. Lame sauce I know.

I feel like my back is finally healing after being constantly strained everyday for 3 years. So it's time to get serious. I will be running periodically but that just depends on how my knee feels on any given day. I'll mostly be working it out on the elliptical. I will be blogging about health and fitness again! It's like the sun is shining again! Hah

Small Birthday Haul (Mostly NYX)

2011-08-13T19:48:00.001-06:00

Last week was my birthday. I was lucky enough to get a few gift cards and cash and decided to try a couple different items from Ulta.

As you can see I loaded up on lots of NYX items! I like the NYX palettes I currently own and wanted to try some of the single eye shadows. I also heard nothing but good things about the lip gloss so I got a few of those.
I also got the Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin. I love the eyeshadow in sin and could help but want to try it in primer form!

Let me know if you want to see any swatches! I just didn't because I know most of these items are swatched a lot.

Weekend Roundup

2011-08-08T22:59:00.000-06:00

Let's see how this weekend went!

Friday-

~~Get all the laundry washed and put away.~~
~~Get all the dishes washed and deep clean the sink.~~
Organize and clean the office.
~~Sweep and mop the kitchen.~~

Saturday-

Meal Plan- include 2 new meals for next week (Idea stolen from My Happy House!)
Grocery list
~~Grocey shop~~
~~Clean Living Room~~

Sunday-

Finish 13 Little Blue Envelopes
Clean our bedroom
~~Change bedding~~
~~Any extra laundry before the work week~~
Deep clean counters

Isn't it interesting that I didn't meal plan or make a grocery and still went grocery shopping?? We actually did a pretty good job though. Kept it around $60 total and that's pretty awesome for my husband and I.

OuterSpace Nails

2011-08-08T20:55:00.001-06:00

I love watching Beauty Guru's on Facebook. They are seriously my guiltiest of pleasures. If my husband get's called into work and I'm at home by myself. I grab snack and settle down in front of the computer to catch up on on my favorite beauty ladies!

One of my favorite guru's is Andrea's Choice. She's so spunky! She always has the most unique ideas. Her nail tutorial this week, "Outer Space Nails," was awesome. My nails don't even compare to her's but it was fun to do something new!

I'll link you to her video but here's my attempt at Outerspace Nails.

I know my nails and fingers do not look very good right now! I just finished my last week Dental Assisting so now I can start to baby my hands and nails without washing them 50+ times a day. Totally dries them out and makes my nails brittle. No amount of lotion would help!

I used ELF-Black as the base and then splotched with China Glazes- Spontaneous and Lemon Fizz. Finally I topped it off with Cover Girl's Boundless Color in Amethyst Mist!

Check out her video!

FOTD

2011-08-06T15:44:00.002-06:00

Today I played around with my eye makeup. I never wear colors! I'm a neutral/brown girl by heart. I just can't make myself experiment on a work day when something can go drastically wrong! So I played around on the weekend. Granted, the pictures don't really show how bright the green actually is but i love it!

I played around with my Coastal Scents 88 Metal Mania & 88 Warm Palettes. I think I'll start trying brighter new colors on the weekend. I think is look is totally work appropriate, especially paired with a nude lip.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend! The weather has been so great! I can't wait to get out and play.

Weekend Planning

2011-08-05T10:41:00.000-06:00

My Happy House and A Life in Progress are hosting this fun blog hop!

I have lots of free time this weekend because I don't have much to do. I got all of my work hours on time and now I can do whatever I want. Well, this weekend is going to be a productive one.

Friday-

Get all the laundry washed and put away.
Get all the dishes washed and deep clean the sink.
Organize and clean the office.
Sweep and mop the kitchen.

Saturday-

Meal Plan- include 2 new meals for next week (Idea stolen from My Happy House!)
Grocery list
Grocey shop
Clean Living Room

Sunday-

Finish 13 Little Blue Envelopes
Clean our bedroom
Change bedding
Any extra laundry before the work week
Deep clean counters

I should accomplish a lot this weekend!

Soon

2011-06-26T19:19:00.000-06:00

Hey guys! Sorry it's been quiet here the past few days. My computer is on the fritz. But as soon as my computer is up and running expect more NOTD's, hauls, and reviews!

NOTD: ELF Fluerescent Pink

2011-06-22T07:00:00.001-06:00

I decided to try another ELF nail polish and see if my opinion changed if I use a fast dry top coat. This polish is called Fluerescent Pink.

The shade itself is okay, I was kind of hoping for it to be a little brighter. It just seems a little pale for the name "Fluerescent." I used 2 coats and then followed that up with Sally Hansen's Insta-Dri. I may have to do a review on the Insta-Dri itself in the future. I'm pleased with this polish and will definitely use it in the future.

Feather Hair Extensions

2011-06-20T07:00:00.001-06:00

Feather hair extensions are one of the newest hair hypes. I hadn't been won over by them yet and just wasn't sure if they were something I could pull off. One of my coworkers bought a kit with lots of colors and options and she offerred to put some in my hair. I asked for a darker color so that I can hide it when I'm at work.

I'm actually surprised how much I love it! It's subtle enough that I can pull my hair back and hide the purple for work or let my hair down, give it a shake and have a nice peek-a-boo strand!

These feathers can be curled, straighten, and washed like the rest of your hair. You can find them at salons or order them where my friend did @ HairFlairs.

Bare Escentuals!

2011-06-18T13:11:00.000-06:00

Since using makeup in high school I've struggled with foundation! I just can't seem to find a liquid or powder that has enough coverage without looking cakey. And on top of that, I struggle with shades. I always go too light or too dark. Any time I hear of a good foundation I have to go find it!
So I finally gave in and ordered me some Bare Minerals products. A year ago I tried my sister's and really liked the way it made my complexion look. So I ordered the $60 kit that you can find at ULTA, Sephora, or BareEscentuals.com. They seem to cost the same at either place. I ordered the Light shade in original. My skin isn't very greasy so I wasn't sure the matte was right for me.

I had some extra $ to spend so along with the kit I also bought some Prime Time and Brush Cleaner. Little did I know that a bottle of the brush cleaner was already included with the kit, but seriously, can anyone have too much brush cleaner? I think not.

This is my "Before" shot. It's not as close as I want and I'm still playing around with my camera trying to find the best settings but you can see my complexion is quite uneven. Splotchy and red.

This is obviously not the best "after" pic ever haha but it's right after I applied my makeup after I had a few days to practice with the application. It definitely evens out the splotches in my skin and the Light shade seems to blend well with my skin tone. It doesn't have as much coverage as I sometimes need but I am happy with it. When I'm having good skin days I will defintiely be happy to just use the minerals powders but I think I will continue to look for a liquid foundation and top it off with the Bare Minerals.

NotD: ELF Coral

2011-06-13T19:16:00.000-06:00

The past few years I've truly discovered makeup and all things beauty related. I hadn't heard of most beauty brands and was delighted to find cheap and (sometimes) good quality makeup at ELF.

Most of the reviews I've read of ELF products are that they can go 50/50 as far as quality goes. But since I was starting with almost nothing I begged my husband for the Master Set for Christmas. The Master Set has practically every item from their essentials line. Every product, every color. (Plus they were having a 50% off sale so it really was a steal). I still have pictures on my camera of all the goodies that came with the set and will eventually do reviews of these products as well.

Most of the items I was happy with but there were definitely a few FAILS. One of them being the nail polish. I tried two different shades and found that I needed at least 3 and up to 5 coats before the color really showed through. My nails began to peel and chip a few days after I applied the polish which may have simply been a coincidence but the sheer fact that I needed so many coats was very discouraging. It took close to an hour for my polish to dry and I was just frustrated.

I've had these polishes for close to 7 months and haven't touched them until now. I read a few good reviews about the coral shade and had to give it a try.

I used 3 coats and like before, it look a little bit to dry. The shade is very pretty and shimmery. Overall I'm quite pleased and am glad that I gave ELF another shot. I can't be too hard on the nail polishes because hello, they are $1! I'm definitely going to start trying the rest of the ELF polishes. I think before I try again I'm going to buy a Fast Dry polish just to cut the drying time down.