Humpday Confessions {{5.13.15}}

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This week has been a long, but good one. There is a lot of stuff going on at work between state testing, the end of the year, field trips and my normal every day stuff.  As a social worker, I get the same contract as teachers, so Friday, May 22nd is my last day with students and my official day before summer! Woot! That just means I have a lot of stuff to sort through, tons of groups/kids to close down, AND lots of kids all over the place emotionally.

Either way, it's time for my Humpday Confessions. If you've never done these, you totally should. It's the best way to let all your guilty little secrets out... or just verbal vomit all over the place. Your choice.

I fucked up my budget this month big time. I went through paying bills like I usually do and life went on... only I forgot to pay a bill, spent that money... and had to pay the bill from my savings account. Big time fail. Epic fail.  

I've never seen a meme so true.

I took a sick day last week because I thought I was a 12 year old who jet got her period for the first time mine was so bad. I literally thought about writing shark week as the reason for using a leave day.  All I needed was an extra large maxi pad, braces, and my glasses and I would have had flashbacks to 6th grade.

   

                         

I truly have no idea why, but yesterday I ate 2 bags of chips. Granted, they were the small bags... but, I just sat and ate them while working. Like a little piglet. Funyuns at work? Who does that?! This little piggie, that's who. 

If you make your blog too hard for me to read, I just skip it... then I just unfollow it if it happens a lot. And by too hard for me to read, I mean if I have to click a picture to get to the post or click a read more button. Too much work. If I have to do more than click your post from my bloglovin, you better be the most awesome post ever. EVER! 

That Likeittoknowit shit is pissing me off. Again, I am lazy. I really don't want to like your picture (which, BTW I don't really like) to have to go to my email to find out where your shoes are from. And on that note, as for all the suggested items make them items that any basic b----- can afford. Just sayin. 

Friday Favorites {{5.8.15}}

This week wasn't too bad, I took Tuesday off for a PMS day. I knew I needed it when a 1st grader asked to play the Grouchy Lady Bug game because I was being cranky. Hint received, 1st grader, hint received. In order to cheer myself up, I spent the day running errands, Pinteresting, shopping for my SIL's bridal brunch this Saturday, and sleeping in. 

Favorite Beauty Pins: I still love Pinterest, even if the pins are starting to get redundant. I feel like I've seen sooooo many of the same things over and over again. All of these are pinned to my  Pinterest on my boards. 

I wear this outfit constantly, but never with pumps or a blazer. Now, I will def add that! 

I have been loving everything crochet lately, including these shorts. Having the inspiration for how to wear them is bonus! 

I love wearing my black maxi skirt EVERYWHERE and having this pin has helped inspire me to wear it in many more ways. I love to wear it with my sports t-shirts, chambray tied in a knot or tucked in, and with basic tees. I am still intimidated by loose shirts. 

Three ways to style a long bob by Refinery 29 is awesome! Since cutting my hair, I am looking for ways to style my hair again and having 3 ways to style in 3 days is a Hallelujer moment! 

The Buzzfeed article on 41 Life-Saving Beauty Hacks is sooo good! There are some that are duh and others that made me go doh, I should have thought of that! 

Fave Purchase: This skirt from Maurice's... Although since I bought it when on my period, it doesn't fit now that I am not a PMS bloated heffer. So, I love it and want to wear it but it doesn't fit. 

Fave Recipes: I bought miso for the Copy Cat Panera Soba Bowl recipe, then wanted to use it ON ALL THE THINGS! These two recipes are too legit and healthy! 

Salmon with Miso Glaze

Panera Soba Noodle and Broth Bowl

Fave Funnies:  

How was your week?

Budget Beauty {{Primers}} Reviews

If you are like me, then you LOVE face and eye primers. Even when a product says that it has a primer in it, I still use a primer. I love the way that they can make your skin feel and the wearability they provide for eye shadows. I have rounded up a group of primers that I have personally tried to give you my honest reviews.

ELF Eyeshadow Primer is a primer that I love to use on a daily basis. It costs $3 and you can find it anywhere. It helps eye shadows to keep their pigmentation, not crease throughout the day, and not bleed or flake. Definitely worth the $3 price tag.

Mica Beauty Eye Primer is something I received in my ipsy bag. I have to say, it has not disappointed. It retails for $45, but on their website is on sale for $22. I use a minuscule amount every day, so it definitely gives you bang for your buck. Much like it's $3 counterpart- it helps eye shadows to keep their pigmentation, not crease throughout the day, and not bleed or flake.

NYX Studio Perfect Primer comes in a variety of shades and is supposed to be a dupe for smash box primers. I bought it in the green color, which corrects redness. For me, this foundation primer dried my skin out and did not help my foundation go on smoothly. Worth the $13? For me, no.

ELF Mineral Primer is another dupe for the smash box primer. Again, it comes in a variety of shades to fit your skin needs and I bought it in green. It comes in a large pump bottle, which is nice. The primer itself goes on smoothly, feels light on the skin and does help even out the skin tone. The only con I had was that the bottle is large, but the amount inside is approximately 25% of the bottle. It has a tube inside filled with product. Worth the $6 price tag? Yes, but don't expect it to last too long.

Rimmel Fix and Perfect Primer retails for $8 and can be found anywhere. It promises to smooth, resurface, brighten, mattify, and protect. For me, it came out gritty and didn't have the staying power to keep my foundation on all day looking dewy fresh like expected. I would assume the gritty feeling was the smoothing and resurfacing power at work, but I didn't particularly enjoy nor like that.

Benefit Stay Flawless is a product I wanted to try after seeing it around the blog world. It retails for $38, can be found at specific makeup retailers (Ulta, Sephora, Beauty Brands), and is a stick form. Again, the packaging on this is misleading as it holds product  approximately 50% of the tube size. For me, the formula was sticky and the stick was hard to use. I wasn't able to get the product into the nooks and crannies of my face, where I feel as if I need product the most (around the nose, under the eyes, etc.). Not worth the $38 to me.

What primers have you tried? Which do you love?

May Goals

I want to make sure that I continue to make every moment of my days count, so I am writing up some May goals for myself. 

Source

Take another class at the gym weekly- I have been taking yoga 2x and Pilates 1x per week, so I would like to go outside my comfort zone and add the Monday night Barbell Strength class to this as well. If I understand correctly, it is extremely similar to Body Pump. 

Drink more water- I have been slacking on this one lately, so I want to make it a priority again. I will just not drink anything all day, then go home and drink a little bit of water. Not cutting it, Tracie. 

Clean out guest room- I took out my warm weather shoes from storage and just plopped them into the guest room. I need to switch out the shoes, clean out the closet (nope, still haven't done it), and take the donate pile of stuff to the thrift store. I have to wonder why I always have something guest room related on my goals... 

Set aside $100- We leave for Mexico June 14th and will be gone 9 days, then July 19th is my 1 year anniversary, and I also have to renew my social work license in June/July. so I have been planning for all that. I want to make sure I have enough cash on hand to shop, leave tips, and go on outings in Mexico. I get paid on the 20th of each month, so technically I will get paid while we are there, but I still want to make sure I have more than enough prior to leaving. I have been setting money aside for  these big events the past few months... which has greatly affected by shopping habits. 

My overall goal this month is to not get too crazy with money/shopping and my time, there seems to be parties galore- wedding showers, retirement parties, baby showers, end of year happy hours... You name it, I've got it this month so I want to make sure that I am still conscious and aware of how I am spending my time AND my money. 

What are some of your goals?

Friday Favorites {{5.1.15}}

As I've been looking at things to take to Mexico in June, I've have discovered some things that I am truly digging on. So, my Friday Favorites is dedicated to a Mexican vacation this week!

Fave Beach Looks: These are items I wish I could afford and would love to have! I really wish the dress was in my budget, because I think it would be perfect for my SIL's beach wedding (i.e. the reason we are going to Mexico). I  heart these one piece bathing suits, because they look so cute and trendy, but at the same time camouflage trouble areas. 

Nanette One Piece

Sirena One Piece

Eliza J Scarf Print Halter Maxi 

Fave Beauty Item:  My favorite item to make me beach ready is hands down this self-tanner. Banana Boat has it going on for a natural looking fake tan. I also like a good spray tan, but am not willing to pay that much, since getting in the ocean wipes it off. With this lotion, I can just re-apply that evening with no one the wiser. 

Fave Beach Ready Recipe: I get down on smoothies for breakfast and my ABSOLUTE favorite recipe is a Berry, Spinach, Pineapple smoothie. It reduces belly fat, provides antioxidants, and makes me regular (TMI, I know). I try to use all fresh ingredients when I can, but frozen works too. If using all fresh, throw a few ice cubes in for a good consistency. I also love strawberry/pineapple at night (with no protein powder) for a tart, cool treat. 

My recipe: 

handful spinach (or kale)

1/2 cup pineapple 

1/2-1 cup blueberries (or a berry blend)

approx 3/4 cup Almond Coconut milk (to the top of the fruit)

1/2 scoop protein powder- we use ON in the vanilla or cake batter flavor

Blend and enjoy! 

Image from Popsugar Fitness

Fave Vacation Songs: These songs always put me in the beach mood. I have loved them forever and can't even tell you the first time that I heard them. 

Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffett 

Escape (The Pina Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes

Fave Airport Reading: I love to take magazines with me to the airport and leave them for other people to read. If I found magazines for free while waiting I would be ecstatic! People and US Weekly are my fave magazines to have with me, I usually carry a few of each and start stocking up a few weeks early. 

What are some of your beach ready faves? Or, if you know where I can find an affordable dress for a beach wedding, let me know below!