My makeup routine/new Product Reviews

I love makeup and recently have purchased a bunch of new products that changed up my routine and I looove them so I thought I would share!

my makeup drawer all divided up by category – love!

First, I apply the Pixi Flawless and Poreless Primer (found at Target)

This is probably my favorite new product! I never applied primer before but after buying and using this product I’ll never go without primer again. Let me tell you, if you don’t use a primer your mind is about to get blown! It makes such a huge difference in the way my makeup looks when I use the primer versus when I don’t.

Next, if I am going out/applying nighttime makeup I apply the tinted moisturizer – I think I saw this product on Shasta’s blog

This product is pretty good, it evens out your face pretty well and sets a good base.

Then I use the Pixi eye bright kit (found at Target). AMAZE. this is my other favorite product. I almost freaked when it went missing last week. There are four different colors I mostly just use the brightest white one for under my eyebrows and in the crease of my eyes. It really brightens up my eyes- I have always used a highlighter under my eyebrow but this one you can actually see for hours and in pictures! and sometimes I use the pink if I want to highlight my cheek bone.

Then I set with a dash of powder bronzer and contour my cheeks

I use the E.L.F. contour brush (LOVE- Target)

and Cargo Bronzer – this giant thing is only $32

Next, I apply a dash of my NARS orgasm blush with this new E.L.F. blush I bought and looooove the look. The NARS is a great bronzed blush look but this brighter E.L.F. color brightens up my cheeks a lot! perfect for summer!

Then I start doing my eye makeup! I know you are really supposed to do your eyes first but I like to do them last….make sure to knock off excess shadow on your brush so it doesn’t ruin your face makeup!

I use my new E.L.F. brushes, o.m.g. big THANK YOU to Lindsey aka The Bargain Blonde for introducing me to these amazing tools found at Target.  Why are they so great, you ask? 1. The length: They are really long, I love loooong brushes I feel like I have more control. 2. Every brush has the name on it so you won’t ever forget what its used for

3. The quality: LOOK at that contour below.

4. the PRICE! great quality brushes for $1-2 a piece! How can you beat that??

I use a variety of different cheapo eye shadows but this one from Rimmel is my favorite.

Then I put a little eyeliner only on top

And then apply my new favorite mascara

Cover girl Lash blast. Love the big wand this stuff makes my eyelashes so full and long!

Here is me out this weekend with all of these products on

So there you have it! All of my favorite makeup products! And even better… they are all affordable! I love makeup but cannot stand to empty my wallet on items that I feel you can get the same look for so much cheaper!

What are your favorite affordable products?

To run or not to run

I have always loved and played sports. My family is a huge sports family, all of the men played either football or basketball into the college level and my cousin is playing football NOW in Europe for the United States team! So to say sports has always been in my life… is an understatement.

I love what team sports brought to my life. It builds your character, it teaches you determination, hard word, to be competitive but be respectful. Acceptance that sometimes you can try your hardest, but there will be times when you still lose. It teaches you that even when you think you are the best, if you don’t watch your back someone better is coming right around the corner. Always be on your game. Real life scenarios. That is why I think it is important for all children to grow up and interact in team sports, whatever sport it may be.

Running. not so much. I never understood it or liked it one bit.

In high school, I was on the track team for 1 race. 1. then I went back to offseason basketball. The weird thing is, I played basketball my entire life. Where you are running. a. lot. Constantly. But I hated running. I loved team sports, workouts where you are thinking about so many other things that you don’t even realize you’re working out.

I have heard people say so many things about running for so long “Running is so relaxing, It is so freeing. blah blah blah” I thought they were freaking crazy.

Then, after high school I searched for so long for a consistent work out that I would enjoy, Something to give me the excitement and love that I had for basketball. I started running with two of my good friends a while back and now I understand. It was hard at first but the more I ran the easier it got. the more I ran, I wanted to beat my previous distance and the more I enjoyed it. It relaxes me and brings me peace. It allows me to be alone with my thoughts. I NEVER thought I would ever say that.

so it started as being just for fun and to get in shape but now I am training for my first race! I am lucky to have a great friend to do it with, we are going to start small – a 5K in August. and a 10K in September. But eventually, I want to run a marathon!

So for now I will admit, I like to run. (Gasp!) I wouldn’t consider myself a runner. so If any of you runners out there have any websites, or advice to offer it would be much appreciated!

Going to go run now :)

DIY Sunburst Mirror

I love the look of a sunburst mirror but they can get quite pricey!

Target – $89.99

Horchow – $249

love this one from Ballard’s but its $149!

Let’s face it I am a broke college girl that loves a bargain so whenever I can cut corners I do! When Megan from Honey We’re Home posted HERE about Hi Sugarplum’s DIY Sunburst Mirror I knew I had to recreate it!

Cassie’s Sunburst Mirror

I followed her tutorial pretty closely

She calls for a 12’’ floral ring, an 18’’ floral ring and 2 packs of Wood shims.

Note* I had to buy 4 packs because the ones I found were smaller

Then you hot glue the wood shims around the 12’’ floral ring spacing them how you wish. Some pointers I picked up were to make sure and glue where the shim touches the 12’’ ring AND the 18’’ ring so it is all glued together. Also the floral rings have holes already in them so make sure to leave one a little open at the top to hang

my mirror

once you glue the first row of shims all around the 12’’ ring, wait a little while for them to dry. Then start gluing another row either longer or shorter than the first row to create depth.

Cassie’s Mirror

Let those dry for a little bit. I have a good glue gun that gets really hot so I really didn’t have to wait long at all, maybe 5-10 minutes.

Then I chose to spray paint mine a Cranberry color so it would have a good contrast against our apartment walls. I let it dry, then went over it again with the spray paint.

Then I glued the mirror on

I left a heavy vase on top for a couple hours to make sure it set

Note* Because you have different layers of wood, make sure you are gluing where the mirror TOUCHES the wood.

Then once it was dry, I hung it above our fireplace with 1 nail!

So there you have it! Super easy, great size and only cost about $25! I love how it looks & I already have a few people wanting me to make them one! :) Definitely going to be tackling some more DIY projects soon!

If you never see me again, you know where to find me…

If you follow me on Twitter you might have picked up that I spent my weekend at the lake. Horseshoe Bay to be exact which is in the middle of God’s country – the Hill country of Texas. Words can’t express the love I have for this place.

It’s a place where this view is the norm

and this view.

A place where all you pack is tank tops, shorts and your bikini

A place where you never open your makeup bag

A place where the TV stays off and the board games come out and pandora plays on loud all weekend long.

A place where the best tamales around come from a shack called Rosie’s

a place where dogs can have fun too

And a place where a dog in a life jacket is normal

A place I love!

I hope you spent your weekend somewhere you love as well

The night I was high off Britney

Nicki was amazing. Britney was amazing. I don’t think we sat down once. My first Brit experience was so incredible I really don’t know how it could be topped. I am still high off Britney.

The gang:

Meg – Me – Roomie

in between dancing we stopped to pose for pictures

then I decided to cut 210930 people in the beer line and NO ONE noticed … hehe oops!

then we added a couple more “girlies” to the group

Veronica – Meg – Me – Jess – Candi Cancer

aaand I quote “I can cure you with sweetness” – Candi Cancer

BAHAhahahah they were hilarious!

This is what being high on Britney looks like…

THEN as we were leaving, I just so happened to run into the one and only Bailey from Peppermint Bliss!! I posted here about how I wanted to dress up like her!

First of all, can I say what a trooper/super fan/bad A to attend a Britney concert, 1. dressed in full costume, 2. With a broken foot (yep, she did that) and 3. at 9 months preggo. Tip of the hat to you

now a little backstory first (we were joking with guys earlier in the night that the only reason men came to the B. Spears concert was if they were gay or in trouble with their woman)

so I think the process of the interaction went a little something like this…

Me: woohooooooo I love Britney, I am so high off Britney

Me: Hey that guy was at Britney – is he gay or in trouble?

I’m pretty sure he answered… but this was when I realized that this guy was Pete, as in Pete Mr. peppermint bliss, so if HE is here, she must be…

then I look over and the stunning 9 months preggo Bailey was standing right there.

I may or may not have ran over to her, knocking people down, possibly scaring the living McBaby right out of her. Remind you, I am high off Britney (it can be dangerous)

If you haven’t been stalking her blog, after you heal from the embarrassment and humiliation, head over to Peppermint Bliss and learn a thing or two. This girl is insanely hilarious and talented – you will love it. Peppermint Bliss was the first blog I ever stumbled upon which led me to so many other great blogs, and to me starting my own little blog. Even though I am still very new at blogging, it was been such a great experience, inspiration and learning tool!  so to Bailey, I am sorry if I sent you into a fit of painful contractions and/or labor. But it was an honor.

However, I think at 9 months preg in 100 degree heat she might have thanked me if girly mcbaby popped out right there…

just sayin’ …..