2017: Favorites

 It's insane to think that 2018 is not too far away and I'm honestly really looking forward to it.
2017 for the most part was good for me.. I quit my job at Kohl's and continue to work my full time job. I ran my first 5K run and I got to go to Motor City Comic Con. Travis released 2 of his Detroit Exorcist comics and had a book singing for Tournament of the Worlds and is also working full-time. We both turned 30 this year, which is a milestone in itself.


Tonight is New Years Eve and here are the Top9 and Honorable Mentions of my favorite things in 2017

Movies

• A Dog's Purpose- I don't believe in reincarnation but this movie was so heartbreaking but sweet at the same time. I bawled my eyes out probably every second of this movie. Since I recently lost my pet, it's been a very hard to watch movie but it's good.

•  Fifty Shades Darker- What can I say about this franchise that hasn't already been said.. I mean it was darker than the first one, had a little more sexy to it. This movie seemed like Dakota and Jamie had a little more chemistry in this one. I liked that this one had more of a story and it was thrilling to watch.

• Kong Skull Island- I hated the first King Kong movie. I feel like this second installment was just so much fun and  more lighthearted than the first one and it actually had some scary parts if you don't like spiders..

• Girls Trip- This was hands down the best comedy of the year. Stellar cast. Solid laughs. I love this movie so much! I got to see this movie at an advanced screening and then I made everyone go see it again once it came out in theaters.

• Wonder Woman- Outstanding movie. Best of the DC universe by far.. What woman is more powerful than Wonder Woman? Gal Gadot sold it. 

• Guardians of Galaxy 2- Favorite Marvel movie of the year. Thor Ragnarok was pretty good but everything about Guardians of the Galaxy 2 knocked it out of the park

 

•  Moana- Finally got to watch this movie. OMG I love it so much! The music was perfect and the story was great.

• Trolls- I thought Trolls was so funny! I loved the songs and the characters and how random they all were.

•  The Great Wall- Another really good movie, that we got to see at a screening this year, great effects and fun story.

•  Thor Ragnarok- This would have been in my top movie list, more so than Star Wars. It's pure fun and it's funny and I really enjoyed it.

 Honorable Mentions:
 

• Hidden Figures- What a wonderful story with a great cast of leading ladies. I wish the Academy would give a little more love to Taraji P. Henson.

• Get Out- This movie was chillingly good and such an original concept. I'm not huge on horror movies but honestly it was kinda predictable in the set up of the movie. It's a very scary concept though.

• Baywatch- This was by no means the best movie of the year but it was funny and I really had fun watching it.

• Pitch Perfect 3- Probably the last movie of the year I see in theaters, but it wasn't as good as the first two but the music was perfect and it was pretty funny so I'm adding it to my list.

Music

 

• Ed Sheeran- Divide is such a good album.. Ed Sheeran just gets better and better with time, I have to say this because Ed Sheeran haunts me while I am in the car and it's inevitable that he will be playing on all three of my favorite stations at the same time.. lol no his music is great. Perfect will probably be the song that will play at my wedding.

• Taylor Swift- Damn Taylor back at it again with the hit records... I honestly don't even have to explain why I love her and this record.

• Selena Gomez- I am anticipating that 2018 will be the year of  a Selena Gomez record. Bad Liar and Fetish are such bops and Wolves.. she's really finding her sound and I dig it.

• Niall Horan- I predict that Niall is going to be the most successful out of One Direction, even though Liam Payne is a close second for me, Slow Hands is one of my favorite songs right now and I can't wait to hear more the album.

Honorable Mentions:

 

• Portugal The Man- Feel it still was the disco bop of the year. I'm excited to hear more from this group.

• Bruno Mars- Perm is such a bop and of course you have That's what I like which is also a jam.

• Kelly Clarkson- The Meaning of Life is such a great album. Love So Soft is such a funky song, I love this directior Kelly is going in musically

• Imagine Dragons- Some people hate the Thunder song, but I really love it

          

TV

Riverdale- I can't believe a show based on the Archie Comics, would be so good. This is the best new show of the year and fills the Gossip Girl/Pretty Little Liars hole in my heart


Santa Clarita Diet- What an odd little show but everything about it works and it's hilarious and keeps you wanting to see what happens next. Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant are perfect.


Big Little Lies- Another great show I got the privilege to watch this year.. Nicole Kidman and Alexander Skarsgard deserve all the awards for their almost hard to watch at times performance.


The Office- I binged watched the Office this year for the first time and I fell in absolute love with it. Jim and Pam are just perfect and ugh I wish I would have watched it sooner.


Gilmore Girls- Another show I binged watched this year and although it's not my favorite, there are some aspects I really love about the show and I hated the revival. so there's that.



HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Keeping up with the Kardashians- If you told me I would be watching the Kardashians, I'm sorry, binge watching the Kardashians, I would call you a liar.. but I'm already on Season 9 so....I don't know what happened.



Man With a Plan- This show is actually pretty funny, I'm pleasantly surprised!



Drop the Mic- it's so good, it's such a savage show






Fashion Icons

Zendaya- I love how you never really know what you are going to get with Zendaya's choice of fashion but it always seems to have 70's inspiration woven through her outfits and I love it!

Emma Stone: The definition of Old Hollywood glamour. She killed it in La La Land, which I didn't add to my movies list (mainly because of the ending) but I appreciate the music and dancing sequences.

Hailee Steinfield: She's really grown on me, I wouldn't say she's consistent in her choices but she is coming into her own and I loved her gown at the Oscars.

Blake Lively: What can I say about Blake that hasn't been said, she's not afraid to take risks and her and Ryan are adorable and their Met Gala outfit stole the show for me.

Lily Collins: She is one of those girls who has a girlie fashion sense but also a lot of her choices has a vintage, old Hollywood feel to them

Honorable Mentions:

 Gigi Hadid- She can wear basically anything and make it look good...

   





















IT Girls

 
Gal Gadot- Before this year, I thought nothing of Gal Gadot. She blew me away as Wonder Woman and she seems like a down to earth woman but at the same time so otherworldly.

 
Dove Cameron: You are not even a real person. You are a fairy princess.
 
Tiffany Hadish: One of the funniest humans on the planet.

 
Camila Mendes and Lili Reinhart: I love following these two on Instagram, they are so funny and you can tell that they really are friends.

 90'S Things




Will and Grace came back this year and they killed it!! I loved watching this show when I was younger and the revival is just so freaking good!!


Just finished binge watching the rest of season 3.. ugh this show has just gotten so good and I love the direction it's going towards.




     
Hey Arnold the Jungle Movie was SO worth the wait!! It was so enjoyable to watch and I really forgot how much I missed these character and if this is the last Hey Arnold ever then they ended it perfectly.

Choker necklaces were a huge thing for me this year. I hope they never go out of style.

90's podcasts!! The Big Orange Couch, When We Were Young, That's So 90's Pod, Best of Friends Podcast. I have really enjoyed listening to those who loved their childhoods as much as I did.

Makeup, Hair and Nails


Glitters- I had to start with some sparkle.. Stila Shimmer and Glow and Colourpop Supernova Shadows where really great products especially during the holidays to give your eyes an elevated look. I also really like using the Colourpop Super Shocks with the ultra glitter formula.

Mascaras- Game changing mascaras this year were L'Oreal Lash Paradise and Lancome Monsieur Big, I also really liked the IT Superhero deluxe sample.

Eye Shadow Palettes- Colourpop has been killing the palettes game recently with first off the Yes Please palette, Dream Street and You Had Me at Hello but really any palette or eye shadow I have been obsessed with. A no brainer is the Jaclyn Hill palette by Morphe which you can achieve any look with.  Controversial pick is the Anastasia Beverly Hills Subculture palette, which I got a good batch so I liked it.

Highlighters-Colourpop pressed highlighters are so beautiful!! Si Vous Plait, Taffy and Here Kitty Kitty are my favorite shades. Also Flower Beauty face palette has the most beautiful golden highlighter, just stunning for drug store. Shout out to Jouer Ice highlighter I have been rocking all winter long.. so gorgeous!

Concealers- Tarte Shape Tape is my can't stop, won't stop but now that I am running out I have been enjoying my Colourpop concealers.

Moisturizer- Belief Aqua Bomb makes my skin feel so hydrated, I look forward to trying more products from Belief.

Beauty Sponge- Flower Beauty has one of the best makeup sponges and it's so affordable!!

Nail Polish- KL Polish, maybe because I'm biased and love Kathleenlights but I have to say that this nail polish has stayed the longest on my nails than any polish I have ever tried.. it's pretty incredible!

Hair Product- Briogeo Rosarco Hair Milk, I received this in a sub box at the beginning of the year but I have been OBSESSED with this stuff and when I run out of it I will be very sad and will have to repurchase immediately. Kristen Ess came out with her own line of hair products and I have been enjoying her Texture and Beach Sprays and also her mousse which never seems to leave my hair sticky.

And there we have it! My list of 2017 favorites! Here's to 2018

Point Zero

KathleenLights has her own brand of Nail Polish and it's probably one of my favorite formulas. She just came out with another collab from Colourpop and it's called Lip and Tips where she made matching nail polish for her liquid lip shades, which I think is so cool!!

One of my favorite unique shades of her liquid lips is Point Zero which is this really cool toned brown that was perfect for the fall/winter season.

Here's my look:

Here's what I used:

EYES

• Base- Tarte Shape Tape
• Lid- Colourpop Super Shock in Noontide with Golden State of Mind Palette in Can't Stop in the center
• Crease- You Had  Me At Hello-Winning Ticket and Want U Back
• Highlight-
• Liner- Kat Von D Tattoo liner, with Winning Ticket and Want U Back with Cargo Secret Beach in the water line
• Mascara- IT Cosmetics Super Hero

CHEEKS

• Primer- Smashbox Pore Minimizing
• Foundation- Maybelline Matte and Poreless
• Concealer- Tarte Shape Tape
• Blush- Too Faced Baby Love
• Highlight-Colourpop Sil Vous Plait
• Bronzer- Physician's Formula Butter Bronzer

 LIPS

• Colour Pop X Kathleen Lights Ultra Satin in Point Zero

You Had Me At Hello

One of my favorite Colourpop palettes this year has been the You Had Me At Hello palette. I think it's one of those palettes that you can do any kind of look you want and what's great about the palette is that it comes with a mirror so I'm more apt to dipping into that palette more than any other and also because it has some great transition shades.

I used Come Clean super shock from the Over the Edge quad, which is this really bright metallic gold, almost like Telepathy's little sister. Then I also used DGAF, which is a unique brown shade with a ton of glitter.

Here's my look:

Here's what I used:

EYES

• Base- Tarte Shape Tape
• Lid- Colourpop Super Shock in DGAF and Come Clean in the middle of the lid.
• Crease- You Had Me At Hello palette in Two Peas, Pulling Strings and Want you Back
• Highlight-
• Liner- I used Sparks Fly as a liner and on the lower lash I used Two Peas, Pulling Strings and in the middle-inner portion I used Fool's Rush. In the waterline I used Cargo Swimmables in Pebble Beach.
• Mascara- L'O'real Lash Paradise

 CHEEKS

• Primer- Smashbox Pore Minimizing Primer
• Foundation Maybelline Matte and Poreless
• Concealer- Tarte Shape Tape
• Blush- Sonya Esman X Colourpop Here Comes the Sun palette in Matyroshka
• Highlight- Here Comes the Sun highlight in Summer Bonfire
• Bronzer- Physician's Formula Butter Bronzer

 LIPS

• Colourpop Ultra Blotted Lip in Zuma

Fell in Love with a Lightning Bug

In the Summer/Fall Colourpop released a new collection, but really they release a new collection practically every week lol but in the Summer Solstice super shock quad there is a gorgeous shade called Lightning Bug and honestly it's one of my favorite shades. It's a golden copper color with silver and pink sparkles and it's so bright and sparkly.

Another shade I have been loving is called Crossing Lines and it's from the What Went Down quad, it's a matte warm peach shade which I used in this look along with Dynasty, a  matte blackened red that I used as a liner

For my lip color I used a matte shade Top 8, which is a really pretty rose brown shade.



 Here's my look:

Here's what I used:

EYES

• Base- Tarte Shape Tape with Rimmel powder
• Lid- Colourpop Super Shock in Lightening Bug
• Crease- Colourpop Super Shock in Crossing Lines and Summer Side
• Highlight- I used the Rimmel Powder
• Liner- Colourpop Super Shock in Dynasty, with Crossing Lines on the bottom and using Summer Side with an angled brush as a liner on the lower lash. I used You Had Me At Hello palette in The Knot
• Mascara- L'O'real Lash Paradise

CHEEKS

• Primer- Smashbox Primer (purple)
• Foundation- Maybelline Matte and Poreless
• Concealer- Tarte Shape Tape
• Blush- Colourpop Weirdough
• Highlight- Flower Beauty
• Bronze- Physician's Formula Butter Bronzer

 LIPS

• Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip in Top 8

Demi Lovato "Sorry Not Sorry" Music Video Look

 I feel like the theme of my blog lately is doing music video looks, and I'm really not mad at that... there has been some really great video looks this year. This look was inspired by Demi Lovato and her look for Sorry, Not Sorry. The only reason I wanted to do this look was because of her poppin highlight and Jill Powell never disappoints. She had posted a list of all the products she used for the video and I tried my best to get as close as I could.

One new product I got to use was the new Dose of Colors The Girls palette, which is a collab with Desi and Katy. I love them and really admire their work and this palette did not disappoint. I will be wearing this palette on New Years Eve for sure.



Here's The Look:

Here's My Look:








































Here's what I used:

EYES

• Base- Tarte Shape Tape
• Lid- Dose of Colors X Desi X Katy The Girls Palette in Noli
• Crease- Violet Voss X Laura Lee Palette in Priss Pot, Mama Bird, Whiskers and Bubs
• Liner- On top I used Tarte Clay Liner, and in the waterline Colourpop Overboard. On the lower lash line I used Mama Bird, Whiskers and Bubs with some highlight from the Gimmie More Palette in the inner corner
• Mascara- Dior Lash Primer with L'O'real Lash Paradise

CHEEKS

• Primer- Hourglass Mineral Veil
• Foundation- Too Faced Born This Way Foundation
• Concealer- Tarte Shape Tape
• Blush- Too Faced Baby Love
• Bronzer- Lorac Take Me to Tantego bronzer palette
•  Highlight- Colourpop Gimmie More Palette 

LIPS

• Colourpop Ultra Glossy Lip in Sugar Lips

Taylor Swift "Look What You Made Me Do" Music Video

 I probably wasn't the only person obsessed with Taylor Swift's new video for "Look What You Made Me Do" because it was something that Taylor has really never done before and the music video had so many easter eggs and hidden meanings, it was just so clever. She has a plethora of different makeup and hair looks, I planned on doing like 4 of them but the look that really stuck out in my mind was the dark smokey burgundy eye with a dark bold berry lip. It was so stunning and so perfect for fall!

I tried the new Fenty foundation for the first time while doing this look and while at first it has a beautiful finish and great coverage, I'm sad that this might be too drying for my skin but if I mix it with more of a hydrating foundation it's a little more tolerable and less powder. What's nice about it is that you don't have to use a lot of product and you definitely don't have to set your face because it dries down. a few things to note is that it dries down face so you need to work in sections and when it dries down it turns a shade darker, so make sure when you are swatching at the store that you wait until it completely dries down.


Here's the look:

Here's my look:

Here's what I used:

EYES

• Base- Tarte Shape Tape
• Lid- Colourpop X iluvsarahii $aucey Palette in Chic Happens
• Crease-ColourPop X Amanda Steele Harley and Chopper and Razy from the $aucey palette
• Highlight- Full Zip from Yes Please Palette
• Liner- On top I used Tarte Clay Liner, and Marc Jacobs Highliner in Black and then I used Razy and Chic Happens. Then I used Sil Vous Plait in the inner corner.
• Mascara- L'O'real Lash Paradise

CHEEKS

• Primer- Becca Backlight Priming Filter
• Foundation- Fenty Beauty
• Concealer- Tarte Shape Tape
• Blush- Colourpop Thames
• Highlight- Colourpop Sil Vous Plait
• Bronzer- Physician's Formula Butter Bronzer

 LIPS

• Colourpop Lippie Stix in Fab Five mixed with Ultra Satin in Hutch

Rihanna "Wild Thoughts" Music Video Look

 Sadly no Fenty Beauty products were used during this makeup look..  actually I did this look the day of the launch and I couldn't run out to my Sephora..

I did purchase a highlighter of hers online but I was so afraid to pick out a foundation shade online, so the next day I ran out to my nearest Sephora and did some swatching and I'm glad that I did because I would have gotten the wrong shade if I would have guessed on it.

I used mainly most of the Colourpop Summer pressed shadows because they were absolutely perfect for this look.




 Here's the look:

Here's my look:

Here's what I used:

EYES

• Base- Colourpop sculpting stix in Gummy Bear
• Lid- Colourpop Super Shock in Banana Daquiris and Tiny Tangerines
• Crease- Colourpop Note to Self, and Muscle Beach
• Highlight- Colourpop Blowfish
• Liner- On the lower lash line I used Muscle Beach then on the top and in the water line I used Makeup Forever black liner I got in my Sephora Play Box
• Mascara- L'Oreal Lash Paradise

CHEEKS

• Primer- Becca Backlight Priming Filter
• Foundation- Maybelline Matte and Poreless mixed with Too Faced Born this Way
• Concealer- Tarte Shape Tape
• Blush- Too Faced in Baby Love 
• Bronzer- Physician's Formula Butter Bronzer
• Highlight- Makeup Geek X Kathleen Lights in Sun Light

LIPS

• Colourpop X Hello Kitty Ultra Matte in Ribbon

Katy Perry and the Subculture Drama

The beauty community was dare I say, shooketh to the core a few months ago with the highly anticipated Subculture palette from Anastasia Beverly Hills. I remember when this palette was leaked on Trend Mood way before the release and everyone was waiting for this stunning palette to be introduced to the world because it was advertised as the sister to the Modern Renaissance palette so the product was even more hyped. The Modern Ren palette is just so good and everyone was expecting this to live up to it and then it happened....

Every Youtube review I had watched on this one palette with the exception of Brianna Fox and Samantha Ravndahl absolutely hated this palette for many reasons.. the shadows were too soft and way too pigmented.. which made me so nervous to get mine in the mail and honestly when I opened up my palette with the exception of a little bit of kick up, I actually really like this palette.

Yes the shadows are so pigmented but if you learn to use a light hand, they are beautiful shadows.

This look was inspired by Katy Perry, while I was scrolling through my Instagram feed. I looked at all the colors used and thought to myself.. wow these look just like the colors in the Subculture palette and I'm really happy with how it turned out.


Here are a few other random eye looks I used with the Subculture palette

Here's The Look:

Here's my look:

Here's what I used:

EYES

• Base- Urban Decay Primer Potion in Greed
• Lid- Anastasia Subculture Palette in All Star with Rowdy on the outer corner
• Crease- Dawn and Roxy and then blending in Rowdy
• Highlight- Colourpop Here Kitty Kitty Highlighter
• Liner- I used Rowdy as my liner, on the lower lash line I used Rowdy with a pencil brush with Cube in the inner corner. I also used Cargo Black Sea in the water line.
• Mascara- L'Oreal Lash Paradise 

CHEEKS

• Primer- Becca Backlight Priming Filter
• Foundation- I think I used either the Photofocus by Wet N Wild or Too Faced Born This Way
• Concealer- Tarte Shape Tape
• Blush- I might have used Roxy from the Subculture palette
• Bronzer- Physician's Formula Butter Bronzer
• Highlight- Anastasia Gleam Glow kit in Crushed Pearl

LIPS

• Pretty Vulgar lipstick in Backstabber
• Colourpop Ultra Glossy Lip in Weho

Met Gala: Selena Gomez

I have been wanting to do this look for the longest time... I wore this look in October, for breast cancer awareness month and it's such a fun daring look! Selena wore this to the Met Gala this year and it was one of those looks that always stood out to me.

Also I had an opportunity to try out the new Covergirl Vitalist foundation through an Influenster Vox Box, can I just say I love Covergirl and I typically love their foundations and their products but their shade selection in this line is terrible.. their lightest shade is way too dark for my skin tone, which is a shame because I did really like the finish and would have repurchased in the future.



Here's the look:




































Here's my look:

Here's what I used:

EYES

• Base- Colourpop Concealer in Fair + Full Zip
• Lid- Colourpop On The Fence with Fair Play and Poodle on the outer corner
• Crease- I traced Colourpop liner in Boots from the lash line to crease to carve out the shape. Then I placed Fair Play and Poodle on top.
• Highlight- Colourpop Full Zip
• Liner- On top I used Boots and then on the water line I used Lorac Pro Liner in Black, on the lower lash line I used Sauvage with On the Fence in the inner portion to lighten and make a little more pinky.
• Mascara- Lancome Monsuier Big

CHEEKS

• Primer- Smashbox Primer (purple)
• Foundation- I was testing out a new foundation from Covergirl and it was too dark for my Skin tone so I mixed Cover Girl Vitalist with Too Faced Born The Way Foundation in Snow
• Concealer- Colourpop in Fair
• Blush- Lorac Beauty and The Beast Face Palette in Enchanted
• Highlight- Algenist Reveal Luminizing Drops in Champagne
• Bronzer- Urban Decay in Sun Kissed

LIPS

• Colourpop Lippie Stix in Birdy