A few of my favorite things...

Every episode of Dexter (season six [6]) has pulled me to the edge of my seat.  I love all the religious inferences made through out this season. Yes, I understand the former seasons (one [1] – five [5]) all brought in the concept of morals via Harry’s code; but this is different, Dexter is considering that every person has a dark passenger, but they also have the light that Brother Sam talks about. This season has seriously blown my mind on a few occasions; I cannot wait to see how this twist with Travis pans out.

This show! This show is like Kingdom Hospital meets The Shining. It’s weird, deranged, and creepy; the plot line keeps you wondering; and it’s well written. It is a little coarse; so, I wouldn’t advise watching this with your grandmother.

Thanksgiving my nephew had this on the television; I had already seen Super8 in theaters over the summer, but even then I knew it was worth a re-watch. This is undeniably a mash up of S. Spielberg’s greatest movies. The kids are all part of a film group (The Goonies), and while shooting a new scene, they witness a horrific train crash. Later, it is found out that the military was using this train to move alien technology (E.T.). There are even some vague references to Jaws, Close Encounters, and Arachnophobia. I found the ending to be a bit lack luster and abrupt. This movie takes the position of showing a mystery through the eyes of children. I highly recommend it!

During the holidays I get into crafting mode. This year I even made my own advent calendar. I’m also trying to get all list of home project checked off before the New Year. Here’s a pick at what I’ve been doing around the apt:

·        I have legitimately become a home barista:

Pumpkin Spiced Latte.

After I found the recipe for the mocha below I started adding about one (1) tbsp. white chocolate chips, and it seriously is better than Starbucks.

White Peppermint Mocha.

I replaced the truffles with two (2) – three (3) tbsp. white chocolate chips; because the chips are half the price of a small bag of truffles.

·        After researching thousands of cute inexpensive gifts to give colleagues (i.e. co-workers, professors, classmates, ect…) I stumbled across these cute little guys.   

via this blog 

·         “Decking the halls” hasn’t popped out of our advent calendar yet, but that hasn’t stopped me from finding a multitude of inspiration, namely these two.

 DIY found here.

DIY found HERE.

·        I start listening to Christmas music in the early November (award yourself 5 awesome-ness points if you caught that reference). Here are the two (2) I’ve been listening to on repeat.  

A Very She & Him Christmas. 

 Sufjan Stevens - Songs for Christmas

·        Favorite memory from November was our day trip to St. Louis. Thanksgiving was fun, and I enjoy spending time with family, but this trip was seamlessly perfect.

October’s Favorite Things

A few of my non-beauty related favorites for the month of October …

1.       Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children – Ransom Riggs

The notion of “Peculiar Children” drew me to this book; I can never resist a story about unusual children, and the vintage photos supplementing the story line add to the beautiful eerie-ness. I find the way in which Riggs represents Jacob’s insight to the world around him exceptional. The first half of the story was face paced and mesmerizing; however, most of the second half is messy and jumbled together. Overall, for me at least, the good points outshine the bad. The sequel will be a long awaited read. paced and mesmerizing; however, most of the second half is messy and jumbled together. Overall, for me at least, the good points outshine the bad. The sequel will be a long awaited read.

2. Matched – Allie Condie

I had very low expectations for this book. At face value it’s very similar to the Hunger Games, but when writing for this type of genre (dystopian society) a few key elements must have to remain the same; given that, this book was good. The way Condie writes is a mixture of  prose and poetry. The characters are well formed, and the transformations they go through are natural. I’ve already begun the sequel, Crossed. So far, I like what I’m reading; thought, this one make take a little longer to read because of midterms

3. Sweet little Zooey.

Wheew! This little girl is a HANDFUL! She is yet to be fully litter trained; so, if for any reason she cannot reach her litter box she goes to option No. 2, my bed. She also is constantly tearing up my wicker baskets. BUT she is also the cutest little baby kitty, and so spunky and playful. Pepper loves having someone to play with.

4. Drive was not what I expected. It was more of a drama rather than action movie it was portrayed to be.Ryan Gosling did a wonderful job, and Carey was beautiful in it. The ending was perfect. I have no complaints with this movie.

5. Dream House was another unexpected plot for me. It had a handful of twist thrown about, but towards the very end you start piecing everything together. The children did a good job acting, until the very end. Who knows, it could have been the director’s vision for them to act that way; make it all seem like a game …

6. Walking Dead, Grimm, Dexter, Supernatural are my most watch shows. I think they are the only time I watch TV.

7. The Wonder Years on Netflix has ended any and all remote control battles JP and I might have had. We have opted to snuggle on the coach and soak in our long lost childhood.

8. I’ve been enjoying many Pumpkin Spiced lattes this month and last month. I’ve even tried my hand at making them, but it has yet to turn out as good as Starbucks. I made a pumpkin pasta from a recipe I found off Pinterest. I also have a few pumpkin spiced candles in my apt. They make the inside feel like fall. Pumpkin is the flavor of the month!

9. Speaking of my apt, I have really been enjoying being a homemaker. Work has been slow; so, I’ve had some extra days off to stay at home doing this and that. I’ve done lots of work to the walls, and tonight I am going to try to tackle my closet, and possibly later this week the kitchen.

Beauty & Fashion Favorites for the Month of October.

I am not only a little late for monthly favorites, but this is my first time compiling a favorites list. I classify the items into two (2) different groups; so, tomorrow I will have non-beauty favorites, without further ado …

1.       Nars Danmari All About Cheeks Palette $65.00 only at Sephora.

Top Row:

Hungry Heart (ivory colored highlight with golden flecks),

Super Orgasm (pigmented pinky peach blush with lots of chunky gold glitter),

Desire (matte bubble gum pink blush with blue undertones)

Bottom Row:

Casino (true deep matte brown bronzer with very fine gold reflects),

Orgasm (sheer peachy pink blush with small specs of gold glitter),

Sin (pinky mauve blush with a gold shimmer)

When this beautiful palette found its way into my life I had been on a mission to simplify every aspect of my little life, a detailed post on this later this month. An overwhelming aspect of my life is my gigantic makeup collection, half of which is unused. Okay, before I go off on a tangent, I received an e-mail from Sephora about this item, and I took it as a sign. This was my first NARS product, and I am seriously impressed. I was scared that Casino would be way too dark for me, and Desire looked like it was made for cooler skin tones; but with a light hand all turned out fabulous. I have been wearing Sin over Casino in the contour area of my face. It give a warm natural flush to the face.

http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P298106&categoryId=B70

2. Lush’s Color Supplement in Light Yellow $17.95

While catching up on Youtube videos, I saw Dulce Candy rave about this. Even though I already recently purchase Revlon’s Photofinish foundation, I rushed out to my Lush to try this out. (My skin is technically combo, but I can get a good deal greasy on my forehead and nose area.) I tried mixing it with a bit of moisturize, but even with my mineral powder it was not a pretty sight. I then opted to use it under my mineral powder, and have not looked back sense. The finish is just so natural; sometimes, I don’t even use a powder. The only semi con is that even with two (2) coats the coverage is barely medium. If you don’t mind using concealer on problem areas then its not a big thing. A BIG pro to this is my skin has never been in better condition.

For a little more information on the product please click the link below.

(It will pull up the shade I use but you can easily find information on the other shades Lush offers)

http://www.lush.com/shop/products/face/colour-supplements/light-yellow

3.      Urban Decay Naked Palette $48

Yes yes! I know, I am late to jump on this train, but as I said earlier I have been on a mission to simplify, and palettes are perfect for this. There are hundreds upon thousands of reviews and post on this product. I will my final word on the matter is believe all the hype; this palette is fantastic!

4.      Butter London Wallis $14

Butter London Polishes are amazing in general, but Wallis is once of the prettiest colors I have come across. It looks like a metallic olive color in the bottle, but when you actually apply it your eyes pick up the massive amount of gold flecks the polish contains.

5.  Forever21 Camel Blazer

So just incase it’s not obvious by not now I become easily OBSESSED with things. When I noticed the world around me wearing camel blazers, and looking especially chic, I decided my black blazer would no longer do. I began the search by scouring the interwebs, mainly eBay. I found some great blazers that fit neatly into my price range, about fifty ($50) dollars; but sometimes the quality of eBay clothes aren’t what you expect from the pictures. This was to be one of my key pieces this fall. This particular one was 29.95. I have found that if you treat your Forever items like designer (ei. take care in washing, no drying, ect.) they can last longer than expected. This blazer looks fabulous with EVERYTHING; it might be one of my top purchase of 2011.

5.  Tights, Socks, & Boots

I wear tons of dresses and skirts; I have never felt one hundred percent (100%) comfortable in jeans. When the  weather turns cooler I must put more layers on my legs; tights, socks, and boots are not only a favorite look of mine, but a MUST to keep me warm.

Tomorrow I will be back with non-beauty favorites for the month of October.