The Summer Tag

My lovely friend Shae over at Diary of a Beauty Padawan has tagged me to do The Summer Tag! I thought it was so funny when I saw that she tagged me in this, considering it's the dead of winter in Australia right now, but for me, summer is just getting started! Along with this post, I guess I'll follow Shae's lead and post a few pictures of my beautiful hometown of San Diego, CA, which is in itself a wonderful summer paradise.

1. What is your favorite thing about summer?

• The sunshine. I'm definitely a warm weather kinda gal, and I love a day where it's sunny and 80 degrees with just a slight breeze. I love being able to wear shorts and not have to worry about being cold whenever I go out! Of course, there's always the problem of getting too hot, but I would rather be slightly too warm than be too cold.

2. Do you have a favorite summer drink?

• Well, for a while it was Starbucks' Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino with soy. Sadly, they didn't bring it back this year! For the last couple of summers, I've just waited for that seasonal drink to come back out, and I'm super bummed I can't get it anymore. For the most part though, I definitely drink lemonade a lot. I mean, I drink lemonade pretty much year round, but there is something so absolutely satisfying (and slightly cliche) about having a big glass of lemonade on a hot summer day.

3. Is there a special place you like to visit each summer?

• Not particularly. I just like to make sure I spend lots of time out in the sun and relaxing.

4. What's your favorite makeup look for summer?

• I really prefer minimal makeup for summer. Most recently, I've just been going for a light foundation, a long-wearing cream shadow, and some mascara! Plus, a bright lip for a pop of color occasionally.

5. Dresses or skirts?

• Definitely dresses! They're so easy to just throw on and run out the door, and they make it look like you tried when in reality, you just didn't feel like having to piece an outfit together (come on, I'm not the only one!). Skirts can just be kind of a hassle if you don't know what to wear with them.

6. Festivals or vacations?

• Definitely vacations. Personally I've never actually been to a festival, but it doesn't really seem like my kind of scene. I love the idea of just being able to relax and spend time with the people who are important to you.

7. What's your signature summer hairstyle?

• I don't think I really have one! Recently, I've been into a low side bun, but that's because I generally can't be bother to deal with my hair since it's been getting longer. I can't wait to start playing with some fun braids as soon as it's long enough though!

8. What's your signature summer scent?

• Sunscreen. I don't really tend to wear a lot of perfume or anything, so for the most part, I just smell like sunscreen! Gotta stay protected.

9. Favorite music for summer?

• I don't think I really have a specific like "summer playlist." Although I've noticed that I'm really into like spunky, powerful break up songs (such as "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" by Taylor Swift), despite being in a serious, long-term relationship. They're just so empowering!

10. Pool or beach?

• It really depends. I don't love going in the water at the beach because the Pacific Ocean is freezing. However, I do love just being at the beach in general. I love walking in the sand and watching people, and just kind of hanging out. The pool for me is definitely more for if I really do want to get into the water. Since coming back from North Carolina, though, I have a renewed love for the beach!

11. BBQ or seafood? 

• Seafood. Always seafood. I'm a vegetarian, but occasionally I'll break that for some fish, when I'm really craving something meaty. Especially for sushi, it's a weakness! Sadly I can't eat shellfish though, since I'm allergic.

Balboa Park in the summer is one of my favorite places!

I tag:

1. Amanda -- Meet @ The Barre
2. Isabelle -- BUBBYBELLE
3. Ciarlene -- Ponderings and Ramblings

...and anyone else who is reading this!

- D. 

p.s. I decided to include a few of my favorite photos from my first summer outing since coming home. I went kayaking with Andrew and we had a blast!

Favorite Fall Things Tag!

For the month of October, I didn't feel like I had much in the way of favorites. So instead, I decided I would just do a tag of my favorite fall things! I saw that +leighannsays did a video on this, so I thought I would go for it as well.

Fall Beauty Faves

1. Face Product 

• My favorite face product for fall is definitely the color "Fawn" from the Anastasia Contour Kit. It is the perfect shade to really sculpt out your face, and a little goes a long way! "Fawn," which is the lower, middle color in the palette, is just the right neutral tone to contour with, without making you look dirty or orange.

2. Cheek Product

• Wet n Wild's Color Icon Blusher in "Mellow Wine" is one of my favorite blushes year round, but in the fall, it's especially beautiful. It is a gorgeous mauvey pink color that is perfect for brightening up a dull complexion.

3. Eye Product

• I absolutely love my Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner in "Blackest Black" during the cooler months of fall. A classic black winged liner is something you can never go wrong with, and this liner stays put! I also love this same formula in "Eggplant" as a subtle pop of color without going too bright.

4. Lip Product

• Currently, the lip product I am in love with is Kit Cosmetic's Lipstick in "Nightwalker." I received this lipstick as a gift from my lovely friend Sarah, and I absolutely love the color and formula! It reminds me quite a bit of Revlon's "Black Cherry," but I much prefer the formula of the Kit lipstick. Unfortunately, this lipstick can only be purchased in Australia. 

5. Hair Product

• To be completely honest, I can't think of any hair products I have been loving recently! Since I've been so busy with school, I've just kind of let my hair do it's thing.

6. Fragrance/Candle

• As always, I adore the Bath & Body Works "Leaves" candle. Although I do have a new favorite this year! The "Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin" candle by Bath & Body Works is absolutely amazing. Unfortunately, I'm not supposed to burn candles in my apartment, so I usually just break up the wax and melt it in my wax burner!

7. Nail Polish

• Like last year, I am still loving my Essie "Vested Interest" nail polish. This was a favorite of mine last October, and I am still absolutely loving it. I also have fallen in love with OCC's "Black Dahlia" nail lacquer, which is this incredible, deep oxblood color!

Fall Fashion Faves

1. Trendy Clothing Item 

• I'm honestly not too big on "trendy" pieces, so I'm struggling to find an answer to this question. I typically stick to more classic clothing pieces so that I can wear them for years to come. I suppose I would have to go with flannels, since they can make such a simple outfit look put together!

2. Comfy Clothing Item

• Basically every hoodie I own! Hoodies are my favorite for the cooler months, since I can just throw it on and run out the door. However, I also adore my black fleece-lined tights. They make literally every outfit so much comfier, since they're almost like wearing fleece pajamas, and go great under skirts, dresses, and even shorts!

3. Shoes

• As gaudy as this may seem, I recently bought a pair of classic Timberlands at my local thrift store, and I am obsessed with them! For one, they're super comfy. Plus, it rains all the time here in North Carolina (not to mention the snow we'll be getting soon), so these are awesome because they are waterproof, non-slip, and pretty warm! And on top of all that, I only paid $10 for these bad boys. 

4. Accessory

• My favorite fall accessory is definitely my classic black Neff beanie. My ears tend to get really cold, really fast, and I find myself wearing this beanie nearly every single day. It goes with any outfit, and keeps my head warm! Not to mention it keeps my hair tame on dry, windy days.

Fun Favorites

1. Halloween or Thanksgiving?

• Halloweeeeeen! Come on, I'm a costume design major. Of course I love Halloween! Plus, I'm not too big on Thanksgiving food. I love coming together with my family, but I don't eat meat, so the whole turkey thing isn't all that great for me. This year for Halloween, I was Alice in Hysteria mode from the video game Alice: Madness Returns! 

2. Favorite festive food and/or drink

• My dad's fudge. Oh, it is absolutely to die for. Technically, it's a Christmas treat, not a fall treat, but I'm gonna make it count anyway! My dad makes the most amazing chocolate fudge (and peanut butter fudge, but I like the chocolate better) and it's just so rich and melt-in-your-mouth amazing! I don't really have a favorite festive drink, since I almost always hate warm drinks.

3. What's the happiest part about fall for you?

• Currently, the leaves! I grew up in a part of the country where the leaves don't really change. We mostly have evergreens in San Diego. Out here, in North Carolina, we have the most beautiful red oak trees, and they turn so many beautiful fall colors that I can hardly stop myself from taking pictures every time I leave the house.

4. Who do you tag?

• I tag anyone who reads this post! Link back to my blog if you decide to do it! :)

And that's it for my fall favorite things! What did you dress up as for Halloween? 

- D.

The Cat Tag

What a freaking cat lady I must sound like right now... But Sarah tagged me, and I can't say no to any excuse to post pictures of my cat, who is sadly on the other side of the country right now :( This is probably one of the silliest tags I've ever seen, but I can't help it! Sarah is on a tag frenzy!

1. Breed or stray?

Preferably a stray. I have nothing against bred cats, I just hate the idea breeding animals and charging insane amounts of money to buy them, when there are thousands of cats in shelters that are being put down every single year because they couldn't get adopted, for a much smaller fee than a breeder would charge!

2. Regardless of your previous answer, what would your favourite breed be?

I think I would have to say Persians or Maine Coons. My first kitty, TJ, had some Maine Coon in him, so that might be why I love long haired breeds.

3. Any cat-themed clothes or accessories?

An excessive amount. My backpack even has cats on it.

4. What's your kitty's name?

Alice! I had another kitty named TJ, but he unfortunately passed away back in December. He was a very old man though, we had him for 15 years, and even when we got him, he was full grown!

5. Favourite toy?

Alice really loves the like feather fishing pole thing. She also plays fetch (well, she runs to it, but she doesn't bring it back, so does it really count as fetch?), and loves the laser pointer!

6. What's your kitty's favourite food?

Weirdly enough, she absolutely loves Purina Cat Chow Healthy Weight. I don't like her eating it because of all the fillers and whatnot, but she absolutely loves it.

7. Lazy or Fierce Hunter?

Mostly lazy. There's a reason I have her on weight control cat food at all times.

 

8. Favourite activity?

Biting everyone. Rolling on the ground. Screaming to go outside and explore.

9. Does your cat have any strange habits?

Well, like I said with the last question, when she wants to go outside and play, she will howl. I've never heard anything like it. She also does this funny chattering noise when she sees a light that she can't reach, but I've read that's just a cat's hunting instinct kicking in! She also runs to the door whenever ANYONE gets home, and she likes to wake me up by biting my lower lip. Oh yeah, and if I leave the door open when I am going to the bathroom, she will sit on my lap. Every single time, without fail.

Since moving, I definitely miss my kitty. I can't wait to see her again in the winter! I promise I'll be back to my normal blogging soon. School started this week so everything has been crazy! Keep an eye out for both my August favorites and my Apartment/Back to School favorites!

- D. 

The Interrogation Beauty Tag

I've been wanting to do some looks for you lately, but it has been so hot and humid in San Diego that I can barely put on a small amount of makeup to even go out! So instead, you guys get a fun beauty tag. My good friend Sarah from Diary of a Beauty Padawan did this tag about a week ago and I've decided to do it as well! So grab a nice refreshing glass of lemonade and let's get started.

1. What is the one product you'd grab if your house was on fire?

• Moisturizer. Definitely moisturizer. My absolute favorite is the First Aid Beauty Ulta Repair Face Moisturizer. I have dry-combo skin, so without this stuff, my skin turns into a total desert, and what's the point of putting on makeup if your skin is dried out?

2. Which beauty blogger would you want to do your makeup?

• I have to say Leesha from xSparkage. She is a beauty blogger/vlogger and is the reason I started blogging in the first place! I absolutely love both her YouTube channel and her blog, and her makeup looks are always amazing!

3. Which celeb do people think you look like?

• I've always been told that I look a lot like Audrey Hepburn, which to me is a total compliment! It must run in my family or something, because my little niece gets it all the time as well. I've also been told Jena Malone when she has her dark hair (like in Catching Fire), which again, is a total compliment. I think it's a bit more evident when I have bangs, so here are some older photos for comparison!

4. What beauty product do you save for a date night?

• I can't really think of anything in particular that I save for date nights. Maybe perfume? I don't usually wear much in the way of perfume, and I kind of just wear whatever makeup I feel like wearing regardless of occasion. 

5. Which of your guy friends takes longer than you to get ready?

• Honestly, it would be my boyfriend. He takes an eternity in the shower, so if we consider the entire from shower to out-the-door getting ready process, he probably takes about as long as me if not longer. The only thing he really has on me is that he doesn't have to blow dry his hair. 

6. If you could create your own miracle beauty product, what would it be?

• A foolproof, full coverage foundation that never cakes. I know those exist, but sometimes even the best foundations will get cakey if not applied correctly! Or a one-step tattoo cover up. As someone who lives in the world of theatre, few things are harder than covering up tattoos! Or, the perfect lipstick formula that never needs touch ups, doesn't feather, and doesn't stain (see also: question #11). 

7. What's your best beauty tip?

• Take care of your skin. Hydrate it. Drink lots of water. Splurge on skincare. I am a firm believer that beauty starts from the inside, so eat healthy so that your inner health will radiate outward. Your makeup will apply so much more easily if you take care of yourself first.

8. What beauty products do you love to splurge on?

• Um, how about everything? I don't even know. If I think it's worth it, I'll splurge on it. End of story.

9. Which beauty bloggers would you bring on a shopping spree?

• It's funny that she mentioned me as well, but I would definitely take Sarah. I think we would have so much fun shopping together, and we're both pretty bad about the whole "It's okay, just get it!" thing ;)

10. What is your signature scent?

• I don't really tend to wear perfume. I really love deep, musky scents though, so I guess that is what I would have to say.

11. I'm on an endless quest for the perfect...

• Red lipstick. I want the perfect blue-toned, blood red lipstick that doesn't feather, fade, or stain. I want a red lipstick that I never have to touch up and stays vibrant all day. I know, I'm asking for a lot, but I have yet to find it!

12. How many beauty products does it take to get your ready? 

• Depends on the day, but if I include skincare and haircare, I totaled up 15 products that I use on a normal day.

13. What lipstick/lip gloss do you have in purse right now?

• I think the only lip product I actually have in my purse (considering I just cleaned it out) is the Fresh Sugar Rose Lip Treatment, which isn't actually my favorite of the Fresh collection, but it's the only one I have at the moment.

14. Who is your celebrity beauty icon?

• Alexa Chung, Dena Kaplan, and of course, Audrey Hepburn.

15. Name the beauty brand you'd most love to be a spokesperson for.

• Wow, this one is actually really hard. Considering my collection, the answer would be Too Faced, since I have a lot of products from them. However, I absolutely love the vintagey vibe that brands like Soap & Glory and The Balm have! 

16. What's your current nail polish?

• Currently my nails are bare! But the color I recently removed was actually a limited edition version of the Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Strips. I can't quite remember what they were called, but they looked like fish scales!

17. Favorite mascara right now? 

• Always the Maybelline Volum' Express The Mega Plush Mascara, although recently I've been loving the waterproof version.

18. The last thing you bought at Boots?

• We don't have Boots here in the US, unless you count the little Boots section at Target, in which I'd have to say the last item I bought was the Boots Botanics Hydrating Eye Cream.

19. I try to never be seen without wearing...

• Some kind of eyebrows. I hate my brows. It's no secret. I always try to at least even them out with a little bit of powder before I head out the door!

20. What's one beauty product you'd always recommend? 

• Ooooh, this is a hard one because there's a lot of stuff I absolutely love. But I would have to say I always go back to the original L'Oreal True Match Foundation. I picked this foundation because, with more than 30 shades, you can pretty much find something for everyone!

If you are a blogger and you read this post, then I tag you! Leave a link to your blog in the comments below and I'll be sure to check it out! 

- D. 

And the award goes to...

Hey everyone! I feel like I've been away for quite some time now, even though it's only been a week. I feel like I've had some major blogger's block! But now I'm back, and I was nominated for a Liebster Award! If you're new to the blogging community, like I am, you will have absolutely no clue what this is. So, after a moment of extreme excitement that I was nominated for some blogging award, my Google Fu instinct kicked in, and I had to research!

What I found about the Liebster Award is that it isn't really an award at all. It's kind of like the original tag/chain for bloggers. You "nominate" people, and then you are supposed to follow the rules to "claim" your award! It's basically just a really great way to get to know others in the blogging community, and to help your readers discover other great blogs.

I was nominated by Erin at Clever Girl Reviews -- and I won't lie, I may have taken a moment to fangirl about, because I love her blog!

With my research, I found that there are some rules to this award. The rules are kind of uncertain, as I've read a couple different variations of them, but I'll just stick with the rules that Erin used.

The Rules

1. Let everyone know who nominated you.
2. Nominate 11 other blogs that you like -- any blogs that have less than 200 followers are eligible (although I may have cheated just a little bit on this one, according to Bloglovin', anyway).
3. List 11 random facts about you, and answer the 11 questions listed by whoever nominated you.
4. Create your own 11 questions for your nominees to answer!

I have no idea why the number 11 is a constant. There really is no "origin" of the Liebster Award, but I think it's fun, and I hope it helps you all find new blogs to follow!

11 Random Facts

1. I am TERRIBLE at random facts lists, and I can guarantee it'll take me a while to finish this...
2. I have more clothes than fit in my closet, and the pile on my floor changes seasonally based on what I'm wearing most often.
3. My birthday is May 30th. I'll be 21 this year!
4. I am the youngest of 3 children, and if you added up all of our ages, we would be more than 20 years older than our dad. 
5. I have lived in the same house since I was born, and will be moving to North Carolina in about 6 months for school.
6. I live less than half an hour away from the Mexican/American border, but the only foreign country I've ever been to is actually Taiwan.
7. I am fascinated by macabre art and writing.
8. I teach colorguard at a local high school. I was in guard for 3 years, captain for two, and my senior year, my colorguard placed 2nd overall in our circuit!
9. When I was 16, I played a pretty convincing dancing pregnant woman in a satirical musical called Urinetown. And yes, it was a musical about pee. (Okay, it wasn't just about pee. But that's what I like to tell people.) You can see a video of my big number here, on my personal YouTube channel! 
10. My very first blog was an "anonymous" blog dedicated to my angsty pre-teen poetry.
11. I like the taste of orange juice after brushing my teeth.

Erin's Questions

1. Coffee or tea? How do you take them?
• It depends on the day, but most of the time I prefer iced tea. I really don't like warm drinks for whatever reason. I like iced coffee with hazelnut or vanilla creamer. As for tea, I'll drink pretty much any kind except for green tea, which I can't stand the taste of.
2. Wine or beer? What are your top three favs?
• Well, seeing as I'm not technically of legal drinking age in the US just yet, I'm going to start this out by saying, no matter what you're age, drink responsibly and be safe. Now that I've said that, I don't have much of a taste for alcohol, and when I do have it, I like it strong, so neither wine nor beer are really my cup of tea, I suppose. I don't drink often enough to really say I have a favorite. 
3. Most embarrassing moment? Keep it PG-13 and under!
• Oh geeze, I'm so bad at embarrassing moments...The one that sticks out in my head the most happened to me my sophomore year of high school. I felt my period coming because I was getting mild cramps, and I thought that it may have started, but class was almost over so I just decided to wait till the end of class and I'd run to the restroom, Well, when I got up, it turned out that, yeah, I had started my period, and it was EVERYWHERE. The seat of my pants was covered in blood and it was all over the chair. I froze up and wiped down the chair as quickly as I could, and luckily my friend gave me a sweater so I could wrap it around my waist and hide it. I ran to the office and called my dad, asking him to bring me new pants. I don't think anyone saw, thankfully, but I was still completely mortified! 
4. What is your favorite skin care product?
• Origins Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask. If I could, I would scream it from the mountaintop, because I love it that much!
5. If your house was on fire but your family and pets were safe, what would you run back in to get if you could?
• Uhhh, my laptop, because I can't afford a new one, my costume portfolio, and the stuffed bunny I've had since I was born. 
6. What's your most coveted high-end makeup brand?
• I think I would have to say Urban Decay. It was the first high-end brand I ever discovered, and to this day, it's still my favorite. Although, I must say I also really love Marc Jacobs, and I really, really wish I could afford more products from that line! 
7. Favorite philanthropic past time or charity?
• I guess it's not really a past time, but I have a very special place in my heart for foster children. I decided back when I was 12 or 13 that if I ever wanted kids, I would adopt, because there are so many children out there without homes and families.
8. What are your top three favorite TV shows of ALL TIME?
• Once Upon A Time, Spongebob (because I'm actually 12 years old), and for the life of me, I can't think of a third. I don't watch much TV, except when I use it as background noise when I'm trying to nap.
9. Can you give us some insight into a time you overcame great personal adversity?
• The best I can think of is this: I was 15 and everything was changing too quickly. I felt very alone and unwanted. To keep a long story short, things got bad very quickly, but I learned that it is always okay to ask for help, and that you'll find that a lot more people love you than you may realize. I think I'm very lucky to have learned this so early in life.
10. What are your top three bucket list items?
• My bucket list is never ending, so this is hard! I really want to travel to Italy. I don't know why, but that's always been one of my top choices in places to travel. To be nominated for some major award in costume design. Oh, and, I want to hold hands with a manatee, like this:
  
  
  
11. What's your favorite food treat?
• Cheesecake. Cheesecake cheesecake cheesecake. Oh, and did I mention, I really like cheesecake?
12. BONUS QUESTION! What are your top three favorite fragrances?
• I'm not much into wearing fragrances, so I can't say I have a top three. But the two that I really love are Elizabeth & James Nirvana Black and Taylor Swift Wonderstruck!

My Questions 

1. Why did you start blogging?
2. What was your favorite toy as a child and why?
3. If you could be any animal for one day, what would you be, and why?
4. Do you have any hidden talents?
5. What is your holy grail hair care item?
6. Favorite drugstore/high street makeup brand? Least favorite?
7. Favorite high end makeup brand? Least favorite?
8. What book are you currently reading, or what was the last book you read? What are your thoughts on it?
9. Either (ee-ther) or either (aye-ther)? 
10. Who is your all-time favorite cartoon character and why?
11. What is your biggest guilty pleasure? 

My "Nominees"

So this is the list of people that I "nominate" for this award! Of course, you don't have to do this, but I think it's a lot of fun, and a great way for readers to get to know the bloggers. 

1. Sequins and Sea Breezes
2. Majotron Blogs
3. I Speak Beauty
4. why hello beauty!
5. reverie belle beauty blog
6. BeautyBakingBella
7. Simply Abbi
8. Anna Blush
9. Bethnal Bohemia

If I'm being honest, I can't really think of anyone else to nominate, because I'm still pretty new to the blogging community! Erin had a ton of really great blogs that she nominated though, so I would definitely suggest checking out her nominees!

- d.