An Easy & Sexy New Year's Eve Makeup Look!

Hi Everyone!

Happy New Year's Eve!  I thought I'd post this to give you all some inspiration for an easy, sexy New Year's Eve makeup look.  So, here's the completed look!

How to get this look:

Step 1:  Brighten under eyes with a concealer.  Dab a bit under your eyes, to the lash line, and blend with your finger.  (I used the Benefit Erase Paste.)

Step 2:  Apply your favorite foundation with a Beauty Blender, making sure to blend down into your neck.  (I used Makeup Forever HD.)

Step 3:  Apply additional concealer under eyes as needed, or to any blemishes.  Blend with Beauty Blender.  (I used the Cle de Peau Concealer in Ochre.)

Step 4:  Using a fluffy brush, apply a setting powder all over your face to set the foundation and concealer.  (I used Rimmel Stay Matte in Translucent.)

Step 5:  Apply bronzer lightly to your temples and around your jaw line using a fluffy brush.  (I used Nars Laguna)

Step 6:  Apply a peachy pink blush to the apples of your cheeks.  (I used Nars Orgasm, but the Elf blush in Tickled Pink will work just as well.)

Step 7:  Fill in your eyebrows, using feathery light strokes, and blend with a spooly brush.  (I used the Anastasia Brow Wiz.)

Step 8:  Apply eyeshadow primer using your finger.  (I used Urban Decay Primer Potion in Original)

Step  9:  Apply a silver cream-based shadow all over your lid and up to the crease, leaving about 1/4 of your innermost lid bare.  (I used L'Oreal 24 hour Infallible Eye Shadow in Primped & Precious.)

Step 10:  Apply a deep taupe/mauve shadow exactly over the silver cream shadow you just applied.  (I used the Urban Decay eyeshadow in Darkside, which is found in the Naked 3 Palette.)

Step 11:  Apply a metallic taupe shimmer shadow on the inner 1/4 of your eye, which should be naked.  Overlap your last shadow and blend it in.  (I used the UD N3 shade Mugshot.)

Step 12:  Using a medium pinky-brown matte shadow, blend out any harsh lines of your existing shadows into the upper crease of your eye.  (I used the UD N3 shade Nooner.)

Step 13:  Using a pale neutral pink satin shadow, highlight under your brows and in the innermost corner of the eye.  (I used the UD N3 shade Strange.)

Step 14:  Use the Darkside side on a small flat brush, and apply lightly to your lower lash line. 

Step 15:  Apply a black liquid liner as close to your lash line as possible, and wing out the ends slightly.  (I used the L'Oreal Lineur Intense in Carbon Black.)

Step 16:  Tightline your lashes and waterline.  (I used the Marc Jacobs eyeliner in Black.)

Step 17:  Apply mascara generously.  (I used the Lancome Hypnose Mascara.)

Step 18:  Apply a pale pink lipstick.  (I used the YSL Volupte Sheer Candy Lipstick in #12 Tasty Raspberry.)

Step 19:  Spritz face with makeup setting spray.  (I used Urban Decay All Nigher Spray.)

Step 20:  Marvel at your beauty.

Hope you all have a lovely New Year's Eve!

Xoxo,

Cathy

My Favorites of 2013!

Hi Everyone!

I hope you all enjoyed the holidays.  Jeremy and I had a great time in Boston for Christmas!  It was a really relaxing, low-key holiday...the best kind.

I can't believe this year is ending, and I truthfully can't say I'm sad to see it go.  2013 was rough.  On to a bigger and better year!

That being said, I did want to discuss some of my favorite/most used products of 2013.  I'll go by category, and let you know what I've been loving.  With all that extra Christmas money most of us have, you never know, this may even turn into a shopping list for some of you.

Foundation:
High End:  Makeup Forever HD
Drug Store:  L'Oreal True Match Lumi
Drug Store Honorable Mention:  Revlon ColorStay Whipped.  I prefer the L'Oreal because the packaging is less clunky, has a pump, and the coverage is just slightly better.

Blush:
Elf Blush in Tickled Pink.  It's $3 and I like it just as much as Nars Orgasm, which is nearly ten times the price.
Honorable Mention:  Bobbi Brown Blush in Nectar.

Concealer - Undereye
Benefit Erase Paste

Concealer - All over
Cle de Peau Concealer
Honorable Mention:  Mac Studio Fix Concealer.  For serious blemishes, I usually use the Mac, but the Mac concealer is a bit thick/heavy for undereye areas, where you can use Cle de Peau for undereyes.    

Powder:
Rimmel Stay Matte.  The one I use is translucent. 

Bronzer:
Tarte Bronzer in Park Ave. Princes

Eyeshadow Primer:
Urban Decay Primer Potion in Original

Eyeshadow - Drugstore
Tie between:
Wet n Wild 8 pan palette in Comfort Zone
Wet n Wild eyeshadow trio in Walking on Eggshells

Eyeshadow - High End
Urban Decay Naked Palette
Honorable Mention:  Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette.  LOVE this palette.  It's getting OM simply because there are fewer shadows to love than the UDNP.
Note:  I was REALLY tempted to put the Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette, but I've only been using it for a month or so, so I thought it wasn't an accurate representation of the year of 2013.

Eyeliner:
L'Oreal Lineur Intense in Carbon Black
Note:  I've been using lots of other liners for tightlining, waterline...but I haven't been loving any lately.  I'm in the market for a new liner.  Recommendations anyone?

Mascara - High End:
YSL Babydoll Lashes
Honorable Mention:  Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara

Mascara - DrugStore:
L'Oreal Voluminous Full Definition Mascara

Lip Balm:
Tie Between:
Nivea A Kiss of... (My favorites are A Kiss of Smoothness and A Kiss of Olive Oil & Lemon)
EOS Lip Balm Stick in Vanilla Bean
Honorable Mention:  EOS Lip Sphere in Sweet Mint

Tinted Lip Balm:
L'Oreal Color Riche Balm (My favorite color is probably the Rose Elixr)

Lipstick:
High End:  Nars Lipstick in Dolce Vita
DrugStore:  Revlon Lip Butter  (My favorites are Berry Smoothie and Raspberry Pie)

Lip Gloss:
Nars Lip Gloss in Chihuahua

Brown Pencil:
 Anastasia Brow Wiz

Beauty Tool:
Beauty Blender

Body Wash: 
Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash

Hand Cream: 
Soap & Glory Hand Food

Nail Polish:
Essie Mademoiselle

Perfume:
Marc Jacobs Dot/Daisy/Honey (Three Way Tie)
Honorable Mention:  Disney by Sephora Ariel Kiss the Girl Perfume



So tell me...what have you been loving in 2013?

Xoxo,

Cathy

Fall Favorites!

Hi Everyone!

I really love Fall.  The weather is not too hot, or too cold.  I love watching the leaves change color, and when they fall, the little crispety crunch beneath your feet can bring a smile to anyone's day.  I love the feeling that the holidays are coming up, but you're not quite at the ZOMG WHAT AM I GOING TO GET EVERYONE stage.  It's such a great time of the year.

Now that we're towards the end of Fall, I wanted to tell you all about some things I've been loving this season.  Let's get to it!

1.  Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte

I LOVE Starbucks in general.  The food is tasty.  The drinks are amazing.  The service is, usually, great.  And I always leave feeling like I had an experience, instead of feeling like, "eh, I grabbed a coffee."  But this Fall, Starbucks has left me with THREE favorites, the first being the Pumpkin Spice Latte.

The PSL has the perfect amount of pumpkin, cinnamon, caffeine, and creamy goodness...and it's delicious hot or iced.

2.  The Starbucks Caramel Apple Spice

I loved the Caramel Apple Spice in High School, but haven't had one in such a long time.  Recently, I was craving a tasty warm beverage with no caffeine, and voila, the CAS was reintroduced to my life.  They're so tasty and are amazing for times when you're not in the mood for caffeine.

3.  The Starbucks Gingerbread Latte

Now that it's red cup season, Starbucks has released the Gingerbread Latte.  To be honest, I've never been a fan of it, but when they burst out the holiday drinks, I noticed the store sign boasted a new recipe for the GBL.  I figured it couldn't hurt to try it.  And I'm SO glad I did.  The taste is delicious, just the right amount of gingerbread and cinnamon flavor, without being overpowering.  Way to change a bad thing, Starbucks!

4.  UGG Ansley Slippers

These "slippers" are great for indoors OR outdoors, as they have the sole of a driving moccasin.  They're super comfortable and have the coziest wool lining ever.  They're great for running errands and pair the comfort of a flat with the warmth needed for the cooler weather.  Mine are pink, and I love them.

5.  Benefit Erase Paste

I have been developing a completely new foundation routine over the past few months, and the Benefit Erase Paste is KEY to combating my dark circles.  I still use my beloved Cle de Peau concealer, but now I put the Erase Paste UNDER my foundation (to brighten up the dark circles), then apply foundation, THEN use the Cle de Peau concealer to handle blemishes and getting the under-eye area to match my skin tone.  This product is a Godsend, and just a little dab will go a long way.

6.  Yves Saint Laurent Babydoll Mascara

I feel bad even sharing this product with you...because it is so overpriced.  But this mascara, oh this mascara.  I originally got this mascara as a deluxe sample size from Sephora using my VIB points.  First mistake.  And now I'm in love with a mascara that's $30 a tube.  Oops.

This mascara is lengthening AND creates unbelievable volume...a combination most mascaras fail to successfully achieve.  It's a must try.  Even if it's just once.

7.  Cozy, Knitted Cold Weather Accessories

I love gorgeous, comfortable, warm accessories to wear now that it's getting chilly.  My friend Ashley, of Great Scott Knits, knits great hats like this that I wear all the time!

8.  My Family

By "my family", I also mean the friends that have become my family.  They give me a constant source of unconditional love, guidance, support, and even some pretty good laughs.  I would not be where I am, or who I am, without them.  I know that seems like such a silly thing to put in a Fall Favorites blog post, but this Fall, and especially recently, I have been thinking about how lucky I am to have these amazing people in my life.  :)

 9.  My Husband, Jeremy 

I am incredibly blessed to have the best husband a girl could ask for.  He is the best friend, partner, and person I have ever known.  He makes me laugh.  Every.  Single.  Day.  He makes me laugh, even when I want to cry.  He listens to me.  He respects me.  He does everything he can to make sure that I am happy.

2013 has been a tough year for us, complete with a cross country move and a tough job search in Chicago for me.  Every step of the way, Jeremy supported me in every way that someone can support someone else.  Every step of the way, he came home with a smile on his face, and showered me with love and support.  No matter what happened, Jeremy always made me feel lucky to wake up next to him.  He is the best part of my day, every single day.

Sooooo, now that I've gone all mushy gushy on you, tell me.  What are your favorite things for Fall?

Xoxo,

Cathy

Caldo Verde

Hi Everyone!

I'll be really honest.  This week, I haven't been super into makeup.  Shocking, I know.

You see, I've been battling a really nasty cold all week.  I've been congested.  I've had headaches.  I've had trouble sleeping.  And my lips are chapped from sleeping with my mouth open.  It hasn't been fun, or cute.

So today, instead of coming up with a half-hearted attempt to talk about beauty, which couldn't be further from my mind lately, I thought I'd share with you the recipe of one thing that always makes me feel better:  Caldo Verde.

Caldo Verde is an iconic Portuguese soup whose name literally translates to "Green Soup".  It's delicious, nutritious, and one of the most well-known traditional Portuguese dishes.  When I first got engaged, I asked my family for a book of all of the family recipes I'd ever need as a married woman.  Thankfully, the recipe for Caldo Verde was included in the book I received at my bridal shower.

Now without further ado, here is my family's recipe for Caldo Verde:

Ingredients:

1/4 cup olive oil
2 cloves coarsely chopped garlic
10 ounces linguica (Portuguese smoked sausage) to slice after cooking and before serving
6 medium potatoes, peeled and cut in pieces
8 cups cold water
1 pound collard greens (flat leaf greens), cut into very fine julienne
Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

1.  In a large pot, add the potatoes, garlic, olive oil, and linguica and cover everything with water.  The water should be about 1 inch above the potatoes.  (You can add more water later, if needed.  The potato base should have a creamy thickness, instead of thin water.)

2.  Bring to a boil then lower the heat, simmering until the potatoes are cooked.  About 30 mins.

3.  Remove the linguica from the pot and slice.  Puree the remaining ingredients in the pot with a hand blender until the mixture is smooth and creamy.  If too thick, you can add a little water at this point.  (Remember, it SHOULD be creamy!)

4.  Add the greens and the sliced linguica to the potato base in the pot and bring everything back to a boil.  Then reduce to simmer for another 5 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Serves 6 to 8.

Enjoy!

Xoxo,

Cathy

August 2013 Favorites!

Hi Everyone!

Now that it's September (When did THAT happen?!), I wanted to post a video of my favorite products from August.  Some of them shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that follows my blog, but some of them are new.

Check out my video and let me know what you think.  Don't forget to subscribe to my channel!

Thanks for watching.  Stay tuned in the coming days for a video of my makeup storage/collection!

Xoxo,

Cathy