By this time tomorrow I will officially be a college graduate and to commemorate this momentous occasion (and dip my foot back in the water since I haven't blogged in what seems like ages)
I've put together a little Spotify playlist with my favorite graduation songs for all those end-of-the-year parties and any blow-outs featuring the Class of 2014.
So, I'm sure by now you guys are totally over me starting posts out this way but...
I'm so sorry I've been away for so long!
I think this is the longest we've been separated and I just couldn't take it any longer.
To continue with the theme of begging for forgiveness let me take a moment to explain my absence in the best way I can...which is probably still not very good but anyway...
Aside from the usual business that is school and work I've been faced with a bit of a creative dilemma.
If you remember a few posts back I announced that I had started a new YouTube channel to supplement content alongside this blog, well after posting my first video and filming a couple others I fell into a creative slump of sorts.
I was so excited to start making videos and building up this blog that it was taking a lot of time away from school so I redirected my focus toward my studies...then I sorta lost sight of what I was doing creatively, I guess. Anyway, long story short I'm done with school for a while so I'm back on board completely and ready to start posting again.
So keep an eye out for my next post which should be coming up sooner than you think. ;)
What a nice way to start off the week...I found this earlier today on Tumblr and sort of ran with it, which brings me to today's post.
When I think of productive Sundays I think of doing things that get me ready for the coming week. To most that might mean starting the two term papers I have due next week or preparing for my Senior presentation but no...what that really means is doing the laundry I've neglected, clearing out my makeup bag, and ultimately...
cleaning my makeup brushes!
Now, while taking on this task I started to notice that I've developed quite a nice technique so I thought I'd share it with you all!
Yay for clean makeup brushes! Yay!
This may seem like the most simplest thing in the world but honestly, if you're doing it right, it can take a little effort so I've actually developed a routine for cleaning my brushes in between cleaning but for now here's the deep clean.
Start out my gathering all of your brushes!
As you can see, they definitely needed a cleaning. Please excuse that rather nasty looking Beauty Blender, we're about to fix that situation.
Now, gather the rest of your supplies!
I use a small bowl (or mug, in this case) filled about a third of the way full with warm water, some baby shampoo from the Dollar Tree, a wash cloth, and napkins.
Now comes the messy part but to help the time go by faster I usually check out some of my favorite YouTube channels for their latest videos while cleaning my brushes.
(I watched Tanya Burr's Nicole Scherzinger makeup tutorial and March favorites videos this time around)
I start out with the smallest brushes first mostly because they don't really hold all that much makeup.
After mixing a little baby shampoo into the water, I dip a brush in the water and swirl it around a little.
Then, I take the brush and wipe it in a circular motion on a napkin (I usually save the wash cloth for the bigger brushes) until all of the makeup comes off and the brush looks clean.
For bigger brushes or ones with a lot of makeup like my foundation brushes, I tend to use the Daily Makeup Brush Cleaner first by spraying it directly onto the brush then swirling the brush around on a napkin or cloth. If it's a brush I haven't used a whole lot, like the pink powder brush, then that's usually all the cleaning it needs but for more heavily used brushes I need to repeat the steps I used for the smaller brushes.
My foundation brush and my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush required a little more care as they both had liquid makeup throughout the bristles, meaning I had to repeat steps a few times.
My Beauty Blender comes with its own cleaner but to be perfectly honest I don't really like the way it smells so I usually just end up running it through some water with baby shampoo and rinsing it until the water runs clear
Finally, once all of the brushes are done I give them a good rinse making sure all the makeup is off and squeeze out any excess water. Then I grab a towel, roll up one end, place it on a table (or my bed), then prop all of my brushes up against the rolled up end so that the bristles are facing down onto the towel.
This allows the brushes to dry without getting water down into the glued part that holds the bristles and handle together ensuring that your brushes will last longer.
No, that's not some sort of pink latte that's actually the dirty brush water after everything was done. I think that means I might wear too much pink blush. haha
I hope you all enjoyed this look into my clean brush routine. I'm all set to start this week off fully prepared...I'm about to get started on those papers too, I promise!
Leave a comment below letting me know if you found any of this helpful and also if you have any tips or tricks of your own.
Just a quick update for you all just because I knew you'd love what I've got to say...
HauteLook is having a a HUGE sale on NYX cosmetics at the moment!
There are some mega deals going on so I just had to share my picks with you, of course!
The first thing that caught my eye about this particular sale is that everything is bundled into sets so it's a really great way to pick up some favorites while also trying out some new products at low prices.
As you already know, I love NYX butter gloss so I was immediately drawn to this set of lip products that features the butter gloss in Eclair along with 4 other products at just $12.00. A single butter gloss can run almost $5 so this deal is crazy bread!
It is really hard for me to walk away from this next set, so hard in fact it's already in my cart just waiting for me to press the checkout button.
This Spring Set features some of my favorite eye shadow colors as well as a rose gold shadow stick for just $7.50!
Originally priced at $30 this huge palette is a steal at just $18 as it includes:
- 52 Eye Shadows
- 4 Blushes
- 4 Face Colors
- 8 Lip Colors
- 1 Lip Liner
- 2 Lip Glosses
- 2 Dual-Sided Applicators
- Face Brush & Mirror
That's a pretty incredible deal if you ask me. Also, in case you didn't know, the majority of NYX products are Animal Testing & Cruelty Free which is a HUGE plus when buying their products as more lines need to make this possible!
Hey guys! I've got some very exciting news to share with you today that will hopefully also explain my short leave of absence (even though y'all are probably used to it by now, sorry bout that!)...
I've started a YouTube channel!!!
YAAAASSSSS!!!
Let me just start out by saying that YouTube is one of the most exciting/scariest ventures I've ever started...like ever! First of all, filming yourself doing anything is a little nerve racking. Filming yourself in a quiet dorm room where you just know your hallmates are listening to you talk to yourself is a whole other level.
But...I'm a huge fan of all things YouTube and probably watch more videos than actual tv and Netflix combined, which is really saying something. Honestly, I've wanted to do this for a really long time and even made a failed attempt at a first video back in February...which was taken down due to a glitch.
Thanks to Dani being the great friend that she is I don't think I managed to embarrass myself too badly on that one as she so kindly pointed out the glitch...which went on for like 10 minutes, not pretty.
I was inspired by another Dani...daniaustin2 to be exact...and her YouTube channel when she posted the TMI Tag video. At the end of her video she tagged those watching to do the same thing and film their own video. It looked like so much fun that I did just that.
Now, mind you its not the best quality in the world as I did just film it on my computer but to be perfectly honest I'm pretty proud of it. It took some guts...especially seeing as I may or may not sing an excerpt of a Taylor Swift song somewhere along the line. eeeep!
But I figured I would let you all know that it's out there on the world wide web if you wanna take a look...so go watch me talk about what love really is, yeap...there's some deep points right out of the gate but then there's Troyler and 5 Seconds of Summer all over the place too!
Also, I've got a lot of ideas for future videos (including one that might go up as soon as tomorrow!) but if you have any suggestions they will be greatly appreciated and you can leave your thoughts below or on the video itself which is right here:
So, things are gonna be a little different than usual with this post but I wanted to share something that is very close to my heart and of dire importance.
I've recently had a wonderful organization brought to my attention once again by the ever fabulous
Founded in 1998 by the creators of the Academy Award®-winning short film TREVOR, The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13-24.
To me, The Trevor Project is so much more than that, its a lifeline...literally.
The Trevor Project offers various programs ranging from the Trevor Lifeline (a 24/7 crisis and suicide prevention line) to TrevorSpace (a social media community for LGBTQ youth, their friends, and allies).
Something that you might not know about me is that I'm a huge supporter of not only gay rights but human rights and as a human being, I feel physically ill at the thought of someone being so distraught that they feel ending their own life is the only way out.
No one should ever feel that way, no matter their sexual orientation.
The Trevor Project has offered help to some of my closest friends in the past and for that I am eternally grateful. So, as a way of showing my appreciation and support I joined Tyler Oakley in his birthday fundraiser on prizeo.com/tyler
So far, Tyler has managed to surpass his goal of $150,000 almost 3 times over but you know what they say...go big or go home!
Tyler has set yet another goal of $500,000 to support The Trevor Project in their life saving endeavors.
Now that might seem like an impossible amount but here's the deal. at last check the amount raised was at $475,717!!!
That's a little less than $25,000 away from the ultimate goal. An amount that is actually less than what was raised last year for Tyler's birthday. We've done it once before, I think it's more than possible to think we can do it again.
Now, Tyler, being the kind-hearted and fun-loving YouTuber we all know him to be, has offered a selection of prizes for each donation made ranging from a postcard, an exclusive t-shirt for a donation of $50, all the way up to a signed poster and photo with each donation garnering a different number of entries for a chance to win a trip to LA to meet Tyler himself.
That's all amazing and incredibly generous, and believe me I'm sure I'm going to love my t-shirt, but the true importance of donating to such a cause is the fact that each dollar raised goes toward saving a life
Think about it...if you slacked off the Starbucks for a day and turned that into a $10 donation The Trevor Project might get to keep their lifeline open a little bit longer, enough time to save a kid that's struggling.
That's a life saved because of you!
I don't care where you stand on the issue (well, I do care but...) a life saved is always a good thing in my book.
So what are you waiting for, people! Head over to Prizeo right now, donate what you can and spend the rest of the day with a smile on your face because you just helped save lives!!!
The Trevor Project offers life-saving, life-affirming programs and services to LGBTQ youth that create safe, accepting and inclusive environments over the phone, online and through text.
Trevor Lifeline - National 24/7 crisis intervention and suicide prevention lifeline for LGBTQ youth (ages 13-24), available at 1-866-488-7386
TrevorChat - A free, confidential, secure instant messaging service that provides live help.
TrevorText- A free, confidential, secure service in which LGBTQ young people can text a trained Trevor counselor for support and crisis intervention.
UPDATE: Guys, we did it!!! As of a few minutes ago, thanks to Tyler's famous 1-minute donations, $502,067 has been raised to support The Trevor Project! That's over half a million dollars! This is incredible and if you donated I want to personally thank you from the bottom of my heart...you never know, one of those lives saved by The Trevor Project might just be someone you know and love. Thank you all and thank you, Tyler Oakley! Continue being awesome, you lovely people! xo Merisa
probably because it kinda has been but I've had so many great things come into my life lately that I just had to share so here we go! - Essie On a Silver Platter-
You've probably heard this before but I am obsessed with nail polish...Essie nail polish to be more specific and I honestly believe I have found my favorite glitter polish ever, which as you will know is quiet a feat. Wanna know how I know this polish is really great? Of course you do, that's why you're ready this. Duh! Well, On A Sliver Platter is one of those glitter polishes that is so pretty it distracts me when I'm writing. Seriously, I actually stopped in the middle of my Modern History exam just to admire my own nail polish...a little vain but whatever, it made me really happy! haha
I don't know what it is exactly but this polish is really great because it has a shiny base that's almost opaque shimmery gold with blue glitter in varying sizes that's just really eye catching. This also makes a really great top coat for School Boy Blazer, which might actually be my favorite polish ever...which is really saying something.
-NYX lip butters-
I have heard so much about these things over the years and really just brushed them off until I spotted them in Ulta and decided to give 'em a try. I regret nothing.
These suckers are awesome! I have two, in Apple Strudel and Cupcake, and need more desperately (by need I mean want, of course). I swear they smell like vanilla or just sweetness in general (I'm awful with describing scents, you'll hear more about that in a second.) Apple Strudel is this really fun peachy color while Cupcake is a hot pink that leans more on the red side, both really great for spring and summer.
They're really opaque for glosses but they're also good for layering over other lip products like my Revlon Color Burst Matte Balms. I'm currently stalking Ulta's site trying to decide what colors I want next...I'm leaning toward Maple Blondie and Red Velvet at the moment. ;)
Keep a look out for these products in my upcoming post about my favorite lip colors for Spring!
- Gucci Guilty Black-
For my birthday back in October, I was determined to treat myself to a new perfume during my girls' birthday weekend-away. So, I waltzed into Sephora and spent a ridiculous amount of time scouring the bright display of crazy insanity that is the fragrance section. After exhausting my nose and using up every sense I had (and probably testing the sales girl's patience too) I decided to be a bit of a badass and go for the sleek black and red bottle of Gucci Guilty Black.
I'm really bad at describing scents (if you couldn't tell from above) so I checked out Sephora's site to see what they had to say about it,
"The Guilty Black lovers bring out the most scandalous sides of each other: alone they are magnificent, together irrepressible. Fearless in their passion, they are brazen, shameless, unpredictable—ready for each and every explosive encounter. Their attraction is instinctive: they go where they sense danger and each other. Too much is never enough for young hedonists, who drive each other to stray ever darker. Life is thrilling and meant to be lived to the fullest. Again and again, they give in to pleasure and the excitement of breaking the rules. Gucci Guilty Black is a sensual oriental floral, inviting you to indulge in your burning desires."
Can I just say that reading that automatically brings the word "badass" to my mind...exactly what I was thinking when I made this purchase and I love that!
To be perfectly honest, I'm not a badass...in case you couldn't tell from, well, any of my previous posts. I started to feel like the scent didn't really fit my personality very well. (Sidenote: scents are supposed to fit your personality, right?) I left the fragrance alone for a little while, just letting it chill on my dresser until one day I decided to get some use out of it. Spraying it reminded me of the fun and determined time I was having during that period in my life and I'm loving that now. I truly believe that scents connect deep in our memories so I highly suggest going out and finding a fragrance to connect with a great memory...it's definitely worth it.
-My Kate Spade Bag-
If you saw my last post then you've probably already heard about my new Kate Spade bag so I won't bore you with too much droning on about it but I will say that I absolutely, positively adore it!
It seriously might just be the cutest thing I've ever owned (aside from my puppy) and I treat it like a child. Seriously, I knocked it into the corner of the Bridge on campus the other day and almost had a heart attack. It's that serious, people. I've officially become that girl!
It will most likely be my forever favorite but I will spare you by just posting it this one last time.
My sister was an absolute gem last weekend and picked me up a kick-butt iHome (it spins!) from her work last weekend and I have been playing music like crazy in the room so I've got quiet a few favorites this week.
-Iggy Azalea "Fancy"-
If you haven't seen this video then I highly suggest you click the link above and prepare yourself for the ultimate throwback!
In the video, my ultimate hairspiration and Aussie girl crush brings back Cher and the gang in her version of Clueless. It's seriously amazing, check it out below and get ready to dance around your dorm room.
You can also check out the song and a lot more on my Spotify playlist below or by checking out my Spotify profile by clicking THIS LINK :)
-5 Seconds of Summer-
Now for something a little toward the other end of the spectrum...a pop-punk band that toured with One Direction. They're from Australia, I discovered them on YouTube, and they are absolutely adorable. There's really not much more I can say than that but you've got to check them out. I've linked some of my favorite songs below (including their latest video)...
"She Looks So Perfect" - 5 Seconds of Summer
-House of Cards-
TGFN!!! That's short for Thank God for Netflix because without it I would never have been introduced to this amazing show. As you probably already know, I'm a history/political science nerd so of course a show that chronicles the internal affairs of both the Capitol and the White House are right up my alley!
Also, it's a serious nail biter (that season 2 premiere tho!) and, as is custom with Netflix. you have the opportunity to binge watch as each season is released collectively instead of by episode.
I'm not proud of this fact but I may have watched the entire first season and most of the second in like 2 days...but I've managed to convince myself to slow down as this is a show that is meant to be savored not devoured. What makes it even better is that the two main characters are Southerners who rose to the top (they even take a trip to South Carolina in a few eps) and aren't afraid to put up a fight. Claire Underwood looks like she has some Monogrammed Magnolia spirit deep in her if you ask me.
Consider it the West Wing with a lot more spice. Now go head over to Netflix and check it out if you're not already hooked.
I hope y'all liked this look into my favorites this week! Comment below with your favorites or let me know your thoughts on some of the things I mentioned above.
until next time, darlings.
xo
Merisa
PS: confession...I actually made this post last week but forgot to schedule it for last Wednesday so sorry if some of this stuff is a little played...it's only been a week though! xo
