I've been a bit less of a reader this year, however, I have gotten through a few books that I really really loved, some of them becoming movie adaptations. Here's my top picks for last year and this year so far, with part of their Goodreads blurb followed by my own two cents.
"Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there. After a dust storm nearly kills him & forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded & completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—& even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive..."
At first, I was really iffy about this book, specifically the writing style- most of the chapters are entries made by Watney himself, in his own words so to speak, and can be very casual and, well, non-writer-y. However, I quickly found myself sucked into his story, laughing at his jokes and waiting with baited breath to witness his fate. A somewhat unusual but fantastic read that will make an amazing film, full of both humor and science.
I came across the Lunatick brand when seeing some of their products featured several times on a cosmetics Instagram account- it took me awhile to actually go look at Lunatick's page, and when I did, it was instant makeup love.
Lunatick Cosmetic Labs is an indie alternative makeup brand based in Milwaukee, WI. They have built their company on the principals of vegan, cruelty-free, handmade products in beautiful vibrant colors and eclectic packaging. They're a smaller brand, meaning they're able to be more connected and interactive with customers and fans and really pay attention to feedback. Their Instagram page is full of photos of happy customers wearing their products, whether a simple lipstick and eyeliner combo or a more colorful intricate look.
I was borderline obsessed. I mean, look at that packaging! Their eye and face palettes come in the cutest, spookiest coffin shape, with a vintage horror theme on the inside, and a bat-shaped mirror. That alone sold me.
It was hard to pick just a few things to order first, but I finally decided, taking a chance by ordering not one but four of their Apocalipslicks, along with an eyeshadow palette, contour palette, setting powder, shimmer powder, primer, and loose eyeshadow. It was go big or go home.
Prices: Very reasonable. The eyeshadow and contour palettes currently go for $35 for 5 pans, which I find excellent for beautiful packaging and handmade products. The lipslicks are $9, again, amazing, and the loose eyeshadows $10 for a good-sized jar.
Shipping: I placed my order on February 19, even though they were out of town and not processing orders until the 21th (I have zero patience as you can see), so technically I ordered on February 21st when they returned to the office. My package arrived today, on February 26, USPS, in perfect condition. Shipping time on their website is estimated 2-10 days, so it was very quick. Shipping for the USA is a flat rate $6.
Without further ado, follow me through the unboxing below!
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Lunatick Cosmetic Labs is an indie alternative makeup brand based in Milwaukee, WI. They have built their company on the principals of vegan, cruelty-free, handmade products in beautiful vibrant colors and eclectic packaging. They're a smaller brand, meaning they're able to be more connected and interactive with customers and fans and really pay attention to feedback. Their Instagram page is full of photos of happy customers wearing their products, whether a simple lipstick and eyeliner combo or a more colorful intricate look.
I was borderline obsessed. I mean, look at that packaging! Their eye and face palettes come in the cutest, spookiest coffin shape, with a vintage horror theme on the inside, and a bat-shaped mirror. That alone sold me.
It was hard to pick just a few things to order first, but I finally decided, taking a chance by ordering not one but four of their Apocalipslicks, along with an eyeshadow palette, contour palette, setting powder, shimmer powder, primer, and loose eyeshadow. It was go big or go home.
Prices: Very reasonable. The eyeshadow and contour palettes currently go for $35 for 5 pans, which I find excellent for beautiful packaging and handmade products. The lipslicks are $9, again, amazing, and the loose eyeshadows $10 for a good-sized jar.
Shipping: I placed my order on February 19, even though they were out of town and not processing orders until the 21th (I have zero patience as you can see), so technically I ordered on February 21st when they returned to the office. My package arrived today, on February 26, USPS, in perfect condition. Shipping time on their website is estimated 2-10 days, so it was very quick. Shipping for the USA is a flat rate $6.
Without further ado, follow me through the unboxing below!
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| I squealed like a happy bat when I saw this striped box in the mailbox! |
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| Back of the info card |
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| Info card and lovelies! |
I'd first heard about The Book Depository from Tumblr book blogs. They had me at free shipping—and I kept seeing these bloggers with the cutest bookmarks that, I learned, came with each order, respectively. I'd been a staunch supporter of Amazon and their glorious free shipping over $35 on many items, but I was swayed to check out this mysterious, bookmark-gifting site.
After time after time of wearing a full face and full eye makeup, sometimes I get tired of it and prefer a simpler, more basic look that lets my natural eye shape and eye area be "free", as well as my whole face in general. It can be a very refreshing, clean, personal feeling. I still struggle with being confident with my features- not even close friends saw me without eyeliner, let alone foundation, in my first years of high school. Now, I've settled a bit more into my look and accepted it for what it is, and I praise and focus on the things I like. To celebrate that, here's my most basic current look, inspired by the Parisian women's style of minimal makeup other than a perfect red lip. (My bob may have brought me a bit closer to my French heritage... or maybe it was too much French cafe music).
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April 18-22 was our time in New York City for Bridal Fashion Week. We stayed in Midtown Manhattan, which is within walking distance to pretty much everything- Central Park, Times Square, Trump Tower, and all that cool jazz. We did quite a lot of exploring, and out of all the places, Midtown and Upper East Side are probably still my favorite. There was so much to see and take in, and I probably took way too many photos.
(btw, here's my full trip album on Facebook.)
The shows and gowns were amazing. We started off on Thursday with a David's Bridal walkthrough.
(btw, here's my full trip album on Facebook.)
The shows and gowns were amazing. We started off on Thursday with a David's Bridal walkthrough.
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| David's is on top of the 20's theme this year. This back was my favorite. |
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| Fit for Daisy. |
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| Their inspiration board |
In preparation for the trip to NYC in a few days, I've been crazily getting together all the little things I'll need, as well as trying some new products that I've been eyeing- specifically some Urban Decay.
It's an easy little word to say; most people feel pressured to say it too often. But for some, it's the most difficult word to say.
"No" is easy; it means no commitment, no change, everything staying within your control and comfort zone. "Yes" is uncharted territory. The possibility of failure- but also new success. "No" definitely closes doors; "yes" can open doors, windows, and rabbit-holes. Rabbit. Holes.
Is it easy? Well... no! And it gets harder the more you think about it. So, you can't let yourself think about it too much. Murder? Think about that a bit more. A spontaneous mini roadtrip? Don't think too long.
Some things are basics for most people but can actually be very difficult if you're used to saying no, if your anxiety has stopped you or impaired you. Going to the grocery store alone can be the equivalent of hiking a mountain- in polka dot underpants. It's normal for things out of your comfort zone to make you nervous- but when your comfort zone is so small is when it becomes a problem, and one that only you can fix. No one else can magically make you better or braver. And 90% of the time after you say yes, you'll be wondering why you were ever even nervous to begin with.
Yes, it may not end fantastically well. You may fail, or be a bit embarrassed. But it was worth trotting out of your comfort zone for, especially if you had fun or accomplished something along the way.
You may not be skydiving or swimming with sharks, but you're making achievements of your own that are just as important as any major obstacle.
Start small, and you'll immediately notice your confidence and happiness boosting.
<3
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