BeyondBlushing...

Where does the time go? Much has changed in my life since my last post. I got my first official teaching job, received my masters degree, and started getting grey hair. Boo. I'm sure all of the above relate to each other some way some how : ) The things that have stayed constant and have provided me much escape from my hectic life is spending time with my family and my pursuit/past-time/obsession with messing around with cosmetics, skincare, and fragrance. To be honest, there hasn't been much time for playing with new products. I've stuck with my tried and true products and have narrowed the time it takes for me to get ready in the wee hours of the morning to about 20 minutes. My faithfuls remain to be: That Gal primer (benefit cosmetics) mixed with, either face & body foundation (mac)or a tinted moisturizer by either Urban Decay or Benefit (I still can't pick a favorite between the two), Sugarbomb (benefit) or Orgasm (NARS) or Sin (NARS)or Pink Swoon (MAC) for blus

Whoa! I consider myself a pretty loyal person. Once I find a great product I usually stick with it. I have been using the same tinted moisturizer for the last couple of years and I truly love it but when I saw that Urban Decay came out with their own version, "Urban Defense" I couldn't get my mind off of wanting to try it out. It just so happened that I had ran out of my other product and was strolling by Sephora last week when I decided to cheat on my faithful tinted moisturizer and purchase Urban Defense (in Halo--light) by Urban Decay. Oh my goodness! I LOVE IT! The product glides on nicely and has the perfect sheer coverage I love. It's lightweight, smells nice, and my favorite result is that it does not leave my face shiny! I'm not a big foundation lover--especially during the hot summer months-- so when I can use a tinted moisturizer that gives me the sheer coverage I like and protects with a SPF 20--I am in skincare Heaven! My, hmmm - hmmm, fine lines are l

Janson Beckett’s Sun Block Daytime Moisturizer with SPF40 has officially moved to the top of my list as my favorite sun block moisturizer. I have been using this moisturizer for just over a month and there is a lot that I really love about it. The first thing is that the product is very light-weight which for me--is a crucial element. I absolutely cannot stand the way heavy moisturizers feel on my face. Especially for all day wear. (A heavy moisturizer at night is a different story for me). Second, this product absorbs very quickly and leaves a super silky finish that feels fantastic and is a great base for applying makeup (or not). It doesn't feel like you are wearing any sun block/moisturizer at all! I love that! I personally do not wear a lot of makeup in the summertime and if I feel like I need a little bit of coverage I will usually wear a tinted moisturizer. But with this product I just add a little bit of foundation to the moisturizer and apply it that way getting the benef

I'm baaaaaack.....well at least until life gets crazy hectic again. The last year and a half of my life has been so totally busy that I feel a bit dizzy when I think about it. I finally completed my mild to moderate special education teaching credential program AND completed the course work and thesis project for my masters in education! Ahhhh! Yes! I am very proud of my accomplishments but now I am on the lookout for a teaching position. But in the meantime, I will be happy to be blogging again about some of my favorite things.... I have been on vacation for a week and a half now. I have spent four days in San Francisco, spent some time at the beach, gone to a car show, organized and cleaned my house,taken my kids to the pool several days in a row, and in the meantime applied for twelve different teaching positions. I got two calls back. One for a telephone interview in which I did in my pj's and one regular face to face panel interview. You would think that I would be all res

Straight from the PR desk at Urban Decay: Win a necklace from Tom Binns for Walt Disney Signature, valued at $875, AND an Alice in Wonderland Book of Shadows. 10 runners up will also receive the Alice in Wonderland Book of Shadows. Enter to win NOW!!!!! http://www.urbandecay.com/promo/contest/Alice/index.cfm So excited for this opportunity to be able to win this awesome necklace and of course that awesome Alice in Wonderland palette! Good luck to the rest of you too!

I'm having surgery to repair my broken ankle tomorrow so I thought I would take my mind off my worries and do what I know best...focus on skincare. I thought I should treat myself to a nice at home facial since I know I will be on my back and in major pain for the next 3-4 days. I don't take the time to do facials often but when I do--my skin always feels amazing! I had a new product that I was also dying to try! The Green Apple Peel for Sensitive skin from Juice Beauty! So, first I started out by using a face wash. Today I used the green gel cleanser from MAC cosmetics. Once my face is clean I do a simple 15-20 minute steam. I heat up water, throw in a couple of camomille tea bags, put the water and tea in a big bowl with a towel over my head--creating a nice steamy tent. I take in nice long breaths and relax as my pores are being opened and exposed to the chamomille tea steam. It is so relaxing, smells so good, and is one of my favorite parts of an at home facial. Ne

One thing that I can absolutely say is that my life is never, ever dull! Just when I thought I was on the path of freedom--on my way-- literally --to celebrate the completion of my teaching credential program I took a lame spill off my porch and broke my ankle! What a dork! I find out if I need surgery tomorrow.....but in the meantime, when I'm not totally doped up and loopy, I've decided to catch up on some reading, writing, and planning of birthday parties and family vacations we would like to take this year. First off, I couldn't wait to share my ever consuming love of Urban Decay Cosmetics with everyone. It just so happens that it ties in very well with the preparation of my daughter's 12th birthday party that we are planning for her--an Alice in Wonderland/Mad Hatters' birthday! Consequently, Urban Decay just released their Alice in Wonderland palette last week! I must get my fingers on this darling palette full of great shadows, 24 7 liners, and a primer p

The last year of my life has been completely consumed by my commitment and dedication to continue my education in obtaining my teaching credential and masters in education. I honestly was unsure what to expect since it had been so many years since I had done my undergrad work--and I'm not going to lie--life has been crazy hectic! I didn't really expect that I would miss THIS industry as much as I have in this past year! I've been privileged in the past to pursue my passion of doing makeup, researching, and being hands on with cosmetic, fragrance, and skincare lines,...and then writing about it all--BONUS! So, I am very thankful when I am introduced to lines that are new to me and I get the opportunity to try them out. This is where ELLIS FAAS comes in.... What a cool line of cosmetics from ELLIS FAAS! From the sleek packaging, amazing product, and very cool developer behind the line--I am truly impressed at this very high class, top quality, and functional line. I'm no