Monday, December 29, 2014

Update & Weekend Photos

Hi Guys,

FIrst off I'd like to say I am so sorry for not finishing Blogmas and leaving you guys hanging. As a full time student I would love to be able to keep up with blog updates and never run out of hours in the day to do what I want, but unfortunately that is not the case and school work takes up a majority of my time. But on a lighter note I have many new posts coming out in the new year that I am very excited to share with you. Now on to the rest of the post...

For my birthday my amazing parents and sisters got me a really nice camera from Olympus, which means that I can now take proper blog pictures to share my little world with you. Naturally with all the excitement in the world I took my camera everywhere I went this weekend and these are just some of the pictures I took. None of them are edited and all of them are mine except for the two that I have captioned below. 

My awesome dad took this photo of me at the beach.

Leave a comment down below and tell me your favorite thing about the holidays. Mine is all the food. 

XOXO,
           Jackie

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Blogmas Day 9 | Review: Dove + Care Hairspray & Dry Shampoo


These Dove + Care products are definitely a must for people like me who have rather hard to manage hair. The dove dry shampoo is great for those of you with oily hair like me. With just a few sprits of this in your hair, it sucks up the oily that can cause your hair to look and feel greasy and disgusting. This product will save you so much time on those days when your running late and your hair isn't looking at its best and it just needs a little pick me up. 

While I love this hairspray because it holds my hair in place and it has relatively no dropping, I wish it didn't smell so strongly. While you only need just a tiny little bit of this stuff in your hair it is still so perfumed and but I really like the formula. Making this still a favorite of mine at the moment but I am not sure if this will definitely be a repurchase for me.

Leave a comment down below telling me what your favorite hairspray is.

XOXO,
            Jackie 

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Blogmas Day 7 | My Favorite Pair of Boots

Madden Girl Boots // From Ross // Photography : my lovely sister

Happy Sunday and Blogmas Day 7! I hope you all had a wonderful day. :D Can you believe we are already a week in to Blogmas? Me neither. Well let me start off by saying that this is not at all what I had planned for today but I am rolling with it.

  ...

I have had these boots for nearly a year and a half now and can safely say I am head over 'heels' in love with them. They look good with everything and are super comfy too. They have never made my feet hurt nor have they worn in poorly either. In my opinion I think they still look great for me wearing these on a daily basis for a year and half and hope they last me another year and a half because I don't know what I will do when these little angels are gone from my life. Now I know they are only shoes but still when a shoe looks good with nearly everything I wear there has to be something said for that.

I'll see you tomorrow with my last gift guide and would love until then if you commented down below telling me what your favorite pair of shoes you own are. 

XOXO,
       Jackie

Friday, December 5, 2014

Blogmas Day 5 | Bath & Body Works Eucalyptus Spearmint





























I am definitely a person who gets stressed rather easily, especially during Christmas time when I am trying to figure out what to get everybody because I am a perfectionist and always want to get everybody a super amazing gift they will loooove. During this time I am always looking for products and activities to help with stress and to help me from getting overwhelmed and this scent definitely helps. I have actually been loving this product for over a year now since my friend introduced it to me, but just recently picked up this trio again.

Now I know this scent might not be for everybody but this always makes me really happy and just a little bit more calm after I smell it. This scent smells very much like a men's aftershave/cologne so if you are into that then this is definitely a product for you. My friend and I actually joked that it was called the 'manitizer' because it smells like men's cologne and we picked up the hand sanitizer first. If you want to check out the candle, lotion, and hand sanitizer you can click here

I would love to hear what your guys favorite Bath and Body Works candle scent is because I am  always looking for new scents to try especially during these chilly winter months.

XOXO, 
    Jackie

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Blogmas Day 3 | Fall Favorites | 2014






















Makeup:
I have absolutely been loving this concealer & foundation duo these last couple of months.  While they do not give super high coverage they do cover up dark circles and acne well and this hasn't broken me out either which is great because when the weather starts to change my skin tends to break out more, so anything that doesn't help my skin break out is a great plus. 

After hearing Tanya Burr rave about this mascara I gave in and bought it. All I have to say is she was right to have been raving about it for so long. It is one of the best drugstore mascaras I have used, it give my lashes the extra volume that they can desperately need some days and last all day long.

Okay so everybody for a while seemed to be raving about this eyeshadow trio and I totally get why.  For only $3 this is definitely a diamond in the rough product while it might not have the most glamourous packaging, the shadows themselves are super smooth and well pigmented so you won't have to sit there packing on the shadow to get results.

Lately I have been trying to adventure more with my makeup and after buying and loving this product in a bright red shade, this naturally seemed to be the choice. I love the color of this product because while being purple it does have a bit of a pinky undertone making it more flattering against your skin. This product also last for a good couple of hours before it comes off but even when the product does rub off it leaves a beautiful purple stain. I can't wait to expand my collection of these little wonders.


Hair Care:
As a person with long thick (can be oily) hair dry shampoo is a must in my hair care regimen. It helps absorb oil on days when I don't feel like going through the daunting task of washing and blow drying my hair for over an hour. I also love the scent of this product which is unlikely for me since strong scents can give me headaches.

Okay so I am that girl with the hair that can't seem to hold a curl unless I spray an entire can of hairspray on my head (*jokes* but it is quite a lot though). So when I tried out this product for the first time and saw at the end of the day that my curls had held up nicely and even though the did fall a little, which was expected, they turned into what looked like effortless waves which is fine with me since my natural hair is rather unpredictable. While the scent of this product along with the dry shampoo is rather and perfumed, it does leaves my hair with a nice perfumed scent that lingers all day. Reminder though a little bit of this stuff can go a long way so be careful not to over do it. 


Entertainment:
I actually ended up reading this book for an english project in school and loved it. The book takes place in London and based on junior constable, Peter Grant, who works with Mama and Father Thames and their children, who control the Rivers of London and give the book its name, and his partners in the police force to stop the unknown force in the city form murdering innocent Londoners. The book is a perfect combination of both the wizarding world of Harry Potter and the crime fighting action and goofiness of Castle.


Okay so confession time, while I love the Flash as a comic book character and was deeply excited for this show purely on that alone the thing that sold me was, Grant Gustin, who plays The Flash. If you watch Glee you might know him as Sebastian, Blaine's arch-nemisis who tried blinding him with rock salt. Well any who I was excited because I thought he was already a fantastic actor, and it really doesn't hurt that he can sing and is really cute too. This is positively a must watch show in my opinion because it has something for everybody in it, from romance to action fighting, its got it.     

Lastly for my music favorite this was the obvious choice because I have been listening to her EP repeatedly on Spotify lately and can't seem to stop. Before you say I am sick of that song 'All About That Bass' (or maybe you still love it like me) give her EP a listen too. It is very rare for me that I come across somebody's entire EP that I would love to listen to all day long and this is definitely an exception to my norm. I love all the songs but especially Title because it has a great jazz/pop feel to it and will have you singing along in know time.

XOXO,
    Jackie  

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Blogmas Day 2 | Beauty Addict Gifts

Christmas is coming up sooner than we give it credit for which means its time for loads of gift shopping. I am definitely a person who enjoys Christmas shopping because I love that rewarding feeling when you find a gift you know the person you are shopping for will love. I have created three gift guides for you to help give some inspiration to your holiday shopping endeavor. 
I will be releasing a new gift guide every other day for the next seven days and while there are some pricey gifts in the bunch I have tried to fit in gifts in everybody's price range. The first one (today's) is for that beauty addict in your life, you know the one the one that always heads to Sephora as soon as you step into the mall and always has to have the newest beauty products as soon as they come out. The second is for the women in your life who aren't as into makeup and would rather have something else for Christmas. Third will be for the men in your life ranging in everything from cologne to electronics. And lastly, my favorite gift set of all the stocking stuffers gift guide. 

Sidenote: I will being doing these gift guides a little differently than last year. After watching Anna from Vivianna Does Makeup do her gift guide video, I got inspired to do these gift guides with each gift being aimed for a certain girl rather than just being generally targeted at all girls.  

This first gift is for the girl who always has the newest beauty product or who loves to adventure with her makeup. The Ipsy Glam Bag works just like a magazine and is shipped to your door (or in this case to the person receiving the gift's door) and comes loaded with samples of makeup, hair care products, skin care, and nail polishes for only $10 a month or you can pay $110 at once for a years worth of Glam Bags. To purchase this gift click on the link above to take a quiz personalizing the bag for the person of your choice, then sign up and have it sent right to their door.

 I think this gift set would be perfect for any girl but especially for the girl who seems to always have a different color on her nails each time you see her. I think these colors are perfect for this time of the year and are suitable for every season too.

For the girl who is always obsessing over her skin this is the set for her. The GLAMGLOW Gift Sexy Set contains three GLAMGLOW masks for each skin's need. The set contains one mask for hydration, another for deep cleaning, and  one more for exfoliation and brightening. While being really great for your skin this gift would make a great pamper night because it is so luxurious. 

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Greta
Okay so maybe it was the name of this lipstick that sold me because I completely loved Greta in the Sound of Music but seriously though I think this lipstick would be great on any skin tone. The color is described as 'wild azalea' basically meaning it is  in between magenta and red. This gift is something every lipstick junkie would appreciate, if not in this color than in one of the other 29 colors, it also makes a really sleek looking gift too because of its magnetic lid so it always stays shut.   

Okay so if the girl in your life loves eyeliner just like me she will be so happy to receive this gift set. It has all the usual brown and black shades along with some unusual colors like silver, purple, teal, and bright blue making this a fantastic mix between everyday and fun shades.

TOO FACED Chocolate Bar Palette
This is the perfect palette for both makeup lovers and chocoholics alike. The palette consists of 16 gorgeous neutral matte and shimmery shades and because the palette is formulated with cocoa powder it even smells like chocolate. The palette even comes in a case that resembles a chocolate bar making it even cuter and even more worth the money.

LUSH Christmas Bathtime Favorites Gift Set
If your girl lovers her pamper nights in she will most definitely love this gift. I absolutely love LUSH's products because everything smells so good and their products are so nice on your skin too. This is an amazing bundle of products including bath bombs, bath melts, and bubble bars which are all amazing products, that your girl is sure to love.

  I would love to here what other items you think would make great beauty gifts. 

XOXO,
    Jackie

Monday, December 1, 2014

Blogmas Day 1 | OOTD: Fall Days & Hot Cocoa






     I was so excited for the start of December that I decided to dress up a little for school but I still kept it rather comfy because I don't like being to dressed up for school. On cold days like this when I get home I like to warm up with either tea or hot chocolate. Today I went for hot chocolate and used my new Mickey Mouse mug that I got during Black Friday which I was super excited to use.  

Outfit:
Jacket - My Mom's from the 80s
Shirt - American Eagle Outfitters
Leggings - H&M
Boots - Madden Girl 

Keep checking back each day for more Blogmas posts to join me in the countdown to Christmas. 

XOXO,
    Jackie

Sunday, November 30, 2014

Black Friday Haul
























Tarte Magical Moments Deluxe Best Sellers Essentials Set

I have always been curious about the Tarte brand but have never been able to convince myself to lay out the dough for the products without trying them first. So when I found this set at Sephora I was so happy because it was the blush, mascara, and lip gloss that I have heard loads about for only $10. I cannot wait to try these products out and will be sure to write a review very soon. 

L'Oreal Lineur Intense Brush Tip Liquid Eyeliner

I absolutely adore this eyeliner and when I was wondering around Target in the wee hours of the morning I had to pick up another one since I was running out of my old one and couldn't go without it in my makeup bag.


I love the NYX eyeshadows and decided to give the blush a try too. I am hoping the formula of the blush will be as nice as the eyeshadows and can't wait to try it out because it looks like the perfect fall blush. 


After buying and loving both the concealer and foundation, I finally gave in and bought the powder to complete the trio. I will be writing a full review very shortly on the trio too and hope I love the powder as much as the other two.

Sephora Birthday Gift

When I was checking out at Sephora I was expecting to have to go back in pick up my birthday gift but I was happily surprised when the girl said a "Happy Early Birthday" and handed me the little box of goodies. I tried out the gifts and can say I love the color and lipstick formulation but I really am not pleased with the smell, it is very powdery and to me at least very overwhelming. I also think the mascara is a great everyday mascara which I look forward to using.


I was so happy when I found this mug in the Disney store because it had Mickey on it, was only $9, and it was gigantic. I have been wanting a mug this big for a while now because I think it's the perfect size for hot chocolate, tea, and soup so when I found this one I was over the moon.

During this time of the year I tend to get a little sock crazy because I think patterned crew socks look so adorable scrunched up at the ankle with a cute pair of boots. So naturally when I found these I was so happy because they look like sweaters for your feet and they were half of the usual price so I got them for $4.

Forever 21 Stirrup Tights

As I was wondering around look and failing to find normal black tight in Forever 21 I came across these. I thought they were a cool alternative to the normal black tights that I couldn't find and can say after wearing them once they take a little adjusting to but are basically the same as regular tights if they were fused together with leggings, still they are very comfy and are worth the try.


XOXO,
    Jackie

Miss Jackie BlaBla's 1st Birthday



I can't believe Miss Jackie BlaBla is turning a year old today. This is so crazy I have learned so much within this year.I have learned how to write and edit pictures and posts which I had absolutely no idea how to do before I started this blog. I couldn't have continued to do this without the support of the group of you out there supporting me. I look forward to learning so much more and can't wait to see what this next year has ahead for us. Okay now I am done with my sappy little speech!!! I just want to say thank you again for the support and that I am so thankful for you all. 


I would also like to use this time to announce that I will once again be doing Blogmas and am going to make this one more successful than last year. 


XOXO,
    Jackie
   

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Easiest Mini Apples Pies Ever































Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of water
  • 1 package of Betty Crocker pie crust mix
  • 1 egg
  • 1 can of apple pie filling
  • 2 tsp. of sugar
  • 1 tsp. of butter
  • sprinkling of ground cinnamon


Baking Equipment:



































  • muffin tins
  • mixing bowl
  • small mixing bowl for egg
  • can opener
  • fork, spoon, and knife for cutting and mixing

Baking Instructions:


  1. Preheat oven to 475 degrees.
  2. Mix the pie crust mix with one cup of water following the directions on the box. Roll out the dough using a rolling pin, to keep dough from sticking to the rolling pin sprinkle a little bit of flour onto the rolling pin and surface.  
  3. Butter muffin tins with paper towel dabbed in melted butter to keep pies from sticking to the edges.
  4. Use a circular cookie cutter (or a cup) to cut the pie crust to the size of molds and then use another smaller cookie cutter (or smaller cup) to cut lids for pies. Then push down gently on pie crust to fit it to muffin tin molds but be careful to not push to hard that you break the pie crust.
  5. Then fill the pie crust with apple pie filling and put a small pie crust lid onto the top of the pie and seal by using a fork to tapper the edges. Then brush pies with egg to give it a glossy finish and sprinkle with sugar to add more texture to the pies.
  6. Bake for 20 minutes and finish them off with a sprinkling of cinnamon sugar.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving or a great thursday if you aren't from the US.



XOXO,
       Jackie

Sunday, November 23, 2014

The Power of Friendship Over A Bad Day


I thought right now would be the perfect time to write a short little post about the POWER OF FRIENDSHIP OVER A BAD DAY. Today has been such a whirlwind for me not in the sense I was doing so much that I couldn't keep track of what I was supposed to do next, but in the I can't figure out where a good happy mind set is and boy do I feel like crap inside kinda sense. 

I woke up this morning with a headache that hadn't gone away the night before and feeling, well to be honest, rather shitty inside and not wanting to do anything but sleep the entire day. Leaving me in not the best of moods but I decided to power through the first half of my day because I knew I had to and because I had plans later on with some of my best friends.

I am so glad I decided to get through the day because by the end of the day I was sitting around my friends dining room table singing along to Vance Joy's album Dream Your Life Away and playing Cat-Opoly (cats + monopoly,which is probably one of the best games ever invented and perfect for a Saturday nights in with friends) and having such a great time because I was with friends who made me happy and who made me smile and laugh when this morning I didn't even feel like getting out of bed. Even though I had some fun moments before I was with my friends, it's because of them that today was a great day for me. I am writing this almost as thanks to them for always being there for me no matter what my mood or how I am feeling. I love you guys if your reading this!


Leave a comment below telling me something you love about your friends.

I hope you all had a great Saturday and as always...
XOXO,
       Jackie
   

Friday, November 21, 2014

Rainy Day Outfit




     First off I'd like to apologize for the super awkward face I making in the first picture but it was the only decent picture I had before it started to rain super hard outside. But any who on with what I wore on this rainy day.

Puffy Coat - Target
Long Sleeve - Gift
Skirt - Forever 21
Tights - Target
Over the Knee Stocking - Kohls
Heels - Urban Outfitters

Makeup:
Foundation - Covergirl's Ready, Set, Gorgeous
Concealer - Covergirl's Ready, Set, Gorgeous 
Powder - Rimmel Stay Matte 
Blush/Bronzer - NARS Orgasm and Laguna 
Eye Primer - Urban Decay Primer Potion
Eye Shadow - Naked 2 Palette 'Suspect' and 'Busted'
Eyeliner - L'Oreal Lineur Intense in 'Carbon Black'
Mascara - Maybelline's The Falsies 
Brows - Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil
Lippie - Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in 'Shameless'

XOXO,
      Jackie

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Fall Floral Nail Art






































I know this nail look can look a bit daunting to some people but I promise this is super easy to recreate and was one of the first nail art looks I learned to master. To create this look I used an array of SinfulColors nail polishes including Come Hither (hot pink), Sailor's Delight (pale pink), Garden Party (deep green), Innocent (light green), All About You (gold sparkle),Wisp (white), and Avon's Sunshine (yellow) and Sally Hansen's Clearly Quick (topcoat) nail polishes and dotting tools.

Step 1: Base Coat

This is honestly such an important step because when I did this look I didn't apply one and when I took the nail polish off my nails were stained a yellowish green color but using a base coat should block this from happening.

Step 2: Base Color

For this step I chose to go with a deep green color but you could honestly choose any color of your liking for this step.

Step 3: Flower Detailing

To create the flowers I dripped nail polish on to a piece of aluminum to make it easier for me to reach the color with my dotting tools. I used a medium sized dotting tool to make 5 dots in a circle with the pink and white nail polishes. I then used a dotting tool of almost the same size to fill in the middle of the circle with yellow. To add a little something extra to the nail art design, I added a dot of the gold sparkle nail polish on top of the yellow dot I put in the middle of the flower. To finish off the deign I used a small dotting tool and the green nail polish to add leaves to the flowers.

Step 4: Top Coat

To seal in the entire design I applied a quick trying top coat to protect and prolong the wear of the design.


XOXO,
     Jackie

Monday, October 20, 2014

The Dream Team: Aveeno Positively Radiant
































These two wonders have been a constant staple on the top of my dresser for months since I first tried them and are both repurchases showing just how much I love them. I absolutely love the formula of both of these products especially with my tricky to deal with skin. Aveeno's Positively Radiant moisturizer is perfect for my super oily skin and it doesn't make my skin break out, which is always a plus. Another plus to this lovely little bit of heaven is that it has SPF protection to protect my skin from harsh UV rays that can cause potential skin damage and I mean who doesn't want gorgeous skin when they get older.

Aveeno's Daily Moisturizing Lotion is perfect for people like me who don't like the residue that lotions can leave behind when they haven't fully absorbed into the skin. This little beauty absorbs quickly and leaves my skin healthy and glowing for the entire and then some. It is also perfect for these colder months when my skin dries up rather easily and starts to looked all cracked and nasty. Both these products are available at most local drugstores and the prices and links to the products themselves are listed below.


price may vary from store to store

XOXO,
     Jackie 

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Sick Day Essentials



























It was bound that I would end up getting sick with my immune system and all my friends being sick at the momment, but I thought I would turn this negative into a positive by writing a blog post about all the things that make me feel better when I am under the weather. 

When I am sick my skin and body tend to just become really dehydrated, making water, tea, and lip balm, a total necessity for me. They allow me to be able to get through the day and make me feel healthier by flushing out all the nasty stuff from my system and just bringing me back to life. I love to cozy up in my bed and read anything when I am under the weather. Right now I have absolutely been loving Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch, just think of it as if Harry Potter met Castle and formed one great fantasy mystery novel taking place all over England. When I get sick of reading actual books I love magazines, Seventeen being one my all time favorites for many years now and I was so excited when I saw that this month's had all of my favorite YouTubers in it. 

One of my most guilty pleasures when I am sick is binge watching some of my favorite shows on Netflix, right now I have been absolutely loving New Girl. I just can't seem to get enough of the quirkiness that Zooey Deschanel and the rest of the cast bring to the show, making this the perfect sick day pick me up. Last but not least you can't forget about sanitizing because when you are sick this is one of the most important steps in keeping you and your friends from becoming more sick. I absolutely love Bath & Body Works 'Stress Relieving' eucalyptus and spearmint hand sanitizer because it smells like mens cologne in the best of ways. My friends and I even joke about its name calling it the 'manitizer'.


Leave me a comment below telling me your favorite things to have around when you are sick. 


XOXO,
     Jackie

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Bright & Quick School Makeup

  






When doing my makeup for school my biggest concerns are making myself look more awake and being as quick as possible. These are the products I use on a daily basis that are light but still have enough coverage to make me look awake and refreshed. 

Face Primer - Benefit's POREfessional
Foundation - Revlon Nearly Naked 
Concealer - Covergirl's Ready, Set, Gorgeous 
Powder - Rimmel Stay Matte 
Blush/Bronzer - NARS Orgasm and Laguna 
Eye Primer - Urban Decay Primer Potion
Eye Shadow - Wet 'n' Wild Trio in 'Walking On Eggshells'
Eyeliner - Rimmel Exaggerate
Mascara - Maybelline's The Falsies 
Brows - Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil
Brow Gel - Maybelline's Clear Great Lashes
Lippie - Vaseline Rosy Lip Therapy

XOXO,
     Jackie

Friday, September 26, 2014

Real Technique's Base Brushes


L to R : pointed foundation brush, powered brush, contour brush, expert face brush, detailer brush, buffing brush

Real Technique brushes have to be one of my favorite brands for base application brushes. They blend so smoothly and don't leave me with any harsh lines or glops of product on my face. I actually prefer these base brushes over my MAC brushes and they retail cheaper then them to at ULTA for $8.99 and $17.99.

I love using this brush when I have more time to do my makeup. It glides and blends foundation so smoothly onto my skin and is perfect for those days I want a more flawless finish.

This brush dusts my face with the perfect layer of setting powder and leaves me shine free, which is super important for me because I have super oily skin and I know you other oily skin girls can agree on how important a good powder brush can be.

The contour brush has to be one of my favorite brushes out of my collection of Real Technique brushes because I love the way it blends my contour and blush and leaves no harsh lines or blotchy spots like other contour brushes have a tendency to do.

This was one of my first foundation brushes and the brush that started my Real Techniques obsession. Besides the contour brush this is definitely one of my favorite brushes, it is great for blending in foundation quickly and covering my skin with an even layer of foundation. 

Don't underrate this brush just because of its size. It is brilliant for covering spots and blemishes with concealer and even applying more pigmented lipsticks that tend to be more difficult to apply without getting it all over your face.

This brush is just a great multi-purpose brush, it blends my foundation and concealer perfectly and works great for other powder products like blush, contour, and setting powder. 


If you love Real Technique brushes leave a comment down below telling me which ones I should pick up next?

XOXO,
     Jackie

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

FALLing In Love with Revlon's Bold Sangria




Fall is honestly one of my favorite seasons because it is the start of rainy weather, warm sweaters, and berry toned lipsticks, and what better way to start off the season than with a new nail polish. I have absolutely been loving Revlon's Bold Sangria as it is the quintessential perfect fall nail color. At first sight I wasn't sure if I was going to like this color because in the bottle it has a rather odd undertone to it, but when I applied it my hesitations were instantly gone and I fell in love with this purple almost black/brown color. The color is the perfect deep purple that I think would suit any skin tone and the formulation of this nail polish is brilliant it dries quickly and leaves a nice sheen to the nail.
                               
                                    Let me know in the comments what your favorite fall nail polish is.

XOXO,
     Jackie