MoxieJean: The Little Fashionista

For an entire year I have had this blog and for an entire year my daughter has been asking for one of her own. She's 6. Uh...no ma'am. But that doesn't mean I can't share with her every now and again, right? Of course I can! So (drum roll please) I introduce to you, the witty, the charming, the fabulous Izzzzzyyyy!

Isn't she charming?

And there is no better time than now to share her and her wee little fashion because the new school year is upon us and I know all you mommies out there are back-to-school shopping too....and probably spending a fortune.

But, whoa, wait a second. Back the train up. I'm all frugal and thrifty over here, buying my things super cheap so I can go out and spend a fortune on the kids? Oh, no no no miss thang, I am not! Plus, we know they're just going to outgrow it all in a year (month...week...day...they never stop growing!) anyway, so why go into debt just to clothe them? I would not spend that much on myself, so I am most certainly not spending that on this messy, growin-like-a-weed, rough and tumble kid!

This year, you fellow frugal mommies can streeeeetch your back-to-school budget while still dressing your budding fashionista supa dupa fly. MoxieJean is an online consignment store that carries great brands like Gymboree, Gap, Old Navy, Baby Lulu, Ralph Lauren, etc. All at 75% or more off retail prices.
 For a mere 35 chucks, I was able to score Izzy 3 separate looks! Holy money saving steals, Batman! And MoxieJean adds hundreds of new outfits every Monday and Thursday so there is always something new to choose from, and with sizes newborn all the way through to 13-14, there's something there for your entire fashionable clan. 

So, without further adu, here is little miss Isabella sporting her back-to-school looks I scored from Moxie...

Get Ready With Me: Filming Makeup

Hey, guys! I promised a "Get Ready With Me" and today it's here! You've seen my makeup products and now you get to see how I use them. Now, although the products I featured previously were for everyday wear, this routine is not. At the time I was getting ready to film a video on my makeup brushes so this look is for days when I am filming.

You're probably wondering what the difference is. Well typically, in pictures or on camera, makeup for the "real world" doesn't show up quite the same. Often times it can make you look washed out. I'm sure you've had experience with that; makeup looks fabulous, you take some pictures, and then you end up looking like a ghost and you're wondering what the heck happened. To look "normal" on camera, you have to make a couple tweaks. 

For the most part, I battle this by just using a heavier hand when applying my makeup. I apply it in the same way, I just use a little more of it. I still use most of the same products from my everyday look as well, but the Revlon PhotoReady line is wonderful for pictures. The finish isn't "dewy" exactly, but it does give you a natural looking sheen so you look more like a human instead of a cake-faced ghost. (Yeah, that's a real thing.) If you're noticing a white cast on your face or you're looking washed out in pictures, I definitely recommend the PhotoReady products.

So, I hope this turns out to be helpful to all of you who have those makeup troubles in pictures and video. I've included a couple tricks of the trade but being that this was my first on-screen makeup routine, it's a little patchy. Bear with me! I would love some input from you guys with experience. Tips or tricks for filming these would be mucho appreciated! Leave me some advice in the comments! As always, if you enjoyed this, don't be afraid to show me a little love by giving it a thumbs up. If you're not already, don't forget to subscribe to my channel annnnd I'll see you guys next time. Enjoy!

Don't forget to watch in HD!

My Everyday Makeup Products | Part 3: Face

It's here, the final video in my 3 part everyday makeup series! First was coverage, second was eyes, and today is face. 

Yes, smarty pants, all makeup products go on your face, that's true. But this post  is specifically geared more toward the blushes and bronzers and such. It's a bit more than just those 2 products though because on an average day, I do highlight and contour my face. Obviously on a more special occasion there's a bit more of that but I always try to do a little in my day-to-day makeup routine because....well....I personally think it's just fun! I think it's amazing how you can alter your entire face shape and layout with just a couple tricks of the hand. Just think, a little bit of shading and highlighting can make you look completely different! Some people think that can be misleading or deceiving and you should just be happy with what you've been given naturally but you could really turn that into an entire debate, that I don't care to get into. Yes, you should be happy with the skin you're in but that doesn't mean you can't still have fun with it! And for me, it's just fun! It's just like painting or drawing; it's an art! As most things, to each their own...

So, if you're like me and you have fun with your makeup, this post is for you. My plan of attack is to next feature my brushes and also, my makeup routine. You've seen the products and now I want share how I use them. The brushes should be easy enough to share but as for my makeup routine, we'll see. I haven't yet done a makeup tutorial so figuring out how to best go about that is new. Also, just putting that out there like that is nerve wracking for me for some reason. It's not so different from what I've already done but it just seems like I'm putting myself out there even more so. It's silly, I know. But don't worry, I have full confidence that I can overcome my weird bought of awkwardness and post it like a champ. :)

So for now, I hope you enjoy part 3. Don't forget to watch part 1 and part 2, if you haven't already. Also, be sure to check out my brushes and makeup routine. If you find this video helpful, remember to give it a thumbs up and don't forget to subscribe to my channel! I've made it really simple for you; just click on the handy dandy subscribe button at the end of the video. I super-duper appreciate it! ;) Enjoy, guys!

The Best of Beauty 2013

The new year is here, it's 2014! Which doesn't feel right to me because for some reason it still feels like 2012. It doesn't even feel like it should be 2013, yet 2014 is here. Odd, I know. But regardless of my wonky internal clock, we're in the year 2014! So to give 2013 a good send off, Kallie from But First, Coffee and I have teamed up together to bring you our favorite beauty products of the year.

You guys probably already know Kallie by now; we've worked together to bring you some fun videos before. I always say this, but I absolutely love watching Kallie! She is the reason I ventured into YouTube and making videos; because she is just that darn good! She's so gorgeous, fun to watch and I always learn a lot from her. Some of my most favorite products I owe to her for recommending them. Case in point: you need to go check her out!

So the best of 2013 is a roundup of all the beauty products I have loved this year. There's a little bit of everything; makeup, skincare, hair care, you name it. Trust me, I had a lot of trouble narrowing down products to mention but these are the best of the best. I didn't try to find just any product to fill a category; these are here because they're genuinely my loves!


 As always, if you enjoyed this video, please remember to give it a thumbs up and don't forget to subscribe to my channel! I've made it really simple for you; just click on the lovely little subscribe button at the end of the video. I super-duper appreciate it! And don't forget to go check out Kallie's Favorites of 2013! She had a lot of great favorites and they were all different than mine. That means you get a double dose of great products to discover! Enjoy, guys!

My Everyday Makeup Products | Part 2: Eyes

Hey, guys! It's part 2 of my Everyday Makeup Product series! Today it's all about the eyes...

I like a more neutral look for my day-to-day eye makeup. Don't get me wrong; I like to look nice and have a little "wow" factor but I like my shadows to be more neutral in color. I love big, bold lashes and I like to define my eyes with liner but that can be a bit much for your daytime makeup. A neutral color palette can give your makeup a more wearable look so you can still have that big, bold lash and liner without looking like your waiting for Richard Gere....She might be America's favorite prostitute but I'm not trying to look like her. ;)

Just like Part 1, these products are all drugstore. I know high end brands can really crank out some great foundations, brushes, bronzers, etc. but drugstore mascara is where it's at! There are so many to choose from though. Trust me, I know. After going through numerous mascaras, eyeliners and shadows, I finally found some that have stuck and today I'm sharing them with you! 

Don't forget to check out Part 1 of my everyday makeup, if you missed it.  It is all about the products I use for my coverage. There are some really great products there that target those really tricky problems. If you have trouble with large pores, dark circles, redness or acne scarring but you still want to look human; it is definitely a must-watch for you! 

Part 3 is on it's way too, so make sure you're on the lookout for that. Part 3 will be all about face products such as blush, bronzer, highlighters and the like. Also, if you find this video helpful, please remember to give it a thumbs up and don't forget to subscribe to my channel! I've made it really simple for you; just click on the lovely little subscribe button at the end of the video. I super-duper appreciate it! ;) Enjoy, guys!

Don't forget to watch in HD! 

My Everyday Makeup Products | Part 1: Coverage

Hey, guys! Do you all love watching everyday makeup routines as much as I do? I am completely addicted to them right now. I mean, I like "special" looks too; they're fun to watch and fun to try. But for me, I'm more interested in everyday looks because I don't generally have a lot of special occasions to get ready for. Your basic everyday makeup is more what I do so I really like to see what products other's are using for their "go to" day-to-day looks.

 Even more specifically, I like to see what products work best for other's with the same concerns and skin conditions as myself. It helps me find good products that work for my specific troubled areas without costly trial and error. So I thought, maybe I could help you out the same way. I'm always trying new things and playing around with different brands and colors but I do have a set of everyday products I use that haven't failed me yet. 

I've divided it up into a 3 part series to make it easier (and shorter) for you to see what I use to target specific areas. Part 1 is all about my coverage. Of all the  products I use and all the different reasons I use them, coverage is my number 1 concern. Unfortunately for me, I don't have the kind of skin that allows me to go bare faced (oh, how I wish!) or with something simple like a BB cream; I need a pretty good coverage. But in addition to full coverage, I also need a product that helps smooth my skin's uneven texture as well. I'm finally reaching an age where fine lines and large pores are starting to be a concern and they can definitely be difficult to fight without the right products. 

So if you have any of the same skin concerns or if you're just looking for some great new products, check out my everyday coverage. I know there's something here that can work for you because all of these products work tremendously and I highly recommend them. And you know me; they're all drugstore, i.e. they're all affordable! I'm all about great products for a great price!

If you enjoy Part 1, be sure to check out part 2: Eyes and Part 3: face! Also if you find this helpful, remember to give it a thumbs up and don't forget to subscribe to my channel! I've made it easy peasy for you; just click on the handy dandy subscribe button at the end of the video! ;) Enjoy!