A Few Makeup Favorites

1. Smashbox High Definition Concealer

2. Benefit Hervana Blush

3. Benefit Bronzer

4. Benefit Stay Flawless 15 hr Primer

5. Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation

Hello, my name is Amanda and I'm addicted to makeup.

But seriously, I do.  I scour the internet reading review after review, watch make up tutorials, and overall just kill my bank account anytime I get anywhere near Sephora, Ulta, or even Target or Walmart.  Even if I just need a replacement of something, I always seem to come out with some new product to try!  It's a problem.

But I thought I'd share a few of my favorite products that I am just loving lately. 

1.  I have been on an everlasting search for the perfect concealer.  I am very fair skinned and have very translucent skin.  Oh and I have bad allergies.  Needless to say I have TERRIBLE dark circles under my eyes.  It's probably my least favorite part of my face.  This concealer is one of the greats I believe.  It goes on smooth, doesn't settle in the creases of my under eye, and blends well with just about any foundation!

2. This blush is amazing.  First of all Benefit blushes and bronzers smell INCREDIBLE.  I use this one in conjunction with the bronzer to create a contoured look.  Super easy. 

3. This Benefit bronzer is my favorite!  Just because you're pale doesn't mean you don't need some bronzer!  It has a highlighter to go with it that makes contouring a breeze!

4. I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS PRIMER.  Okay I said it.  I was super skeptical.  15 hours is a prettttty lofty promise in my opinion.  And the price tag of $30 is a bit much for me too.  However, I read the reviews and they all said it was great.  And they were right.  This stuff is phenomenal.  My makeup looks just as great at 10pm as it did when I put it on at 6am and makes all my makeup go on super smooth.  DEFINITE buy if you like a primer under your makeup.

5.  I've never worn much Tarte makeup.  And I'm not sure why.  This Amazonian Clay Foundation is incredible.  Lightweight but provides incredible coverage.  Plus it has tons of great things for your skin it.

But I am by no means a make up artist.  But I like to play around with different products and brushes.  If you guys like this post, maybe I'll do an eye make/product post as well?  Let me know.

These are my favorites for now.  But I know I'll find some more stuff soon.  

Have a favorite product?  Let me know!  I always love to try new products!

xox

5.6 What do I do?

Well since I can't answer with my job, I do a lot of things.

I laugh, a lot.

I eat, a lot.

I love my boyfriend, family, kit cat, puppy dog

I plan for our future, for what I'm having for lunch

I daydream about the dream vacation or even what I'm having for dinner

I play with my kitty and soon with my new puppy

I organize because I'm messy and can't seem to put things away.

And most importantly,

I pray because the Lord has graced me with more than I deserve


xox,

5.5 BFF BESTIE LOVE OF MY LIFE

Embarrassing my best friend by publicly professing my love for her?  Yes please.

My best friend Rachel and I have been a pair for about the last 10 years.  CRAY to think about.  We have lived in different cities for 99.999% of our friendship but that's okay.  When we get together, oo Lordy it's a hoot. She's the bomb.com.  We have so many inside jokes and I know no matter what we will always be there for each other.  She'll be the maid of honor in my wedding.  And I'm sure one day we'll be in the same nursing home getting into trouble!

So bestie, BFF, gangsta biotch, grass cutter, best friend....

I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU AND I DON'T CARE WHO KNOWS IT!!!

Xox,

5.4 Favorite Quote

Okay, can I cheat on this day? Can I have two favorites?  Because there are two quotes that I pretty much live by.

"Before you ask which way to go, remember where you've been"

• What a great quote.  Everybody comes from somewhere.  Everyone has a story.  Whether it be good, bad, sad, inspirational.  We all have one.  Sometimes, it's good to remember where you've been, where you've come from.  It can easily point you in the exact direction you've been meaning to go in.

"To exist for yourself is meaningless"-Denis Waitley

• What is life without someone to share it with.  Whether it be family, friends, boyfriend, husband.  However you want to define it.  When you've made it to the top, when you've achieved everything you've ever wanted to, don't you want someone there cheering for you?  I know I do.  I exist for my family, my boyfriend Casey, and the big man upstairs.  Who do you exist for?

Until tomorrow! [look at me go!]

5.3 Things that Make me Uncomfortable

Things that make me uncomfortable... Hmmm

Does anyone like to talk about the uncomfortable things in life?  Not so much! Hah!  Okay here we go.

• Surprises: Party pooper, I know.  But, I tend to be a bit of a control freak.  I like to know what's going on. I like to be prepared.  You can't be prepared for a surprise!
• Gossip/Drama: I can't handle drama.  It makes me so uncomfortable when people hang their dirty laundry out for everyone to see.  Don't come to me with drama, don't talk behind my back.  We are all adults here.
• Divorce: My parents are divorced.  My mom remarried a pretty incredible man.  That's all you get.  Don't ask questions about it, because I'm just going to avoid it.  Now we're all uncomfortable.  
• People who call me babe, hun, darlin, sweetie, etc who are not my mother, grandmother, or my boyfriend: this one's pretty self explanatory

And there you have it.  Uncomfortable!

Until next time,

5.2 Gluten Free Lifestyle for Dummies

Bloggin every day in May…here we go!

Educated everyone on something I know a lot about….

Well I know a little about a lot of things but one thing I know pretty dang well is living a gluten free lifestyle. 

I have a disease called celiac.  If you're not quite sure what that is let me try to explain it in more understandable lingo.  Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease associated with a toxic reaction in the intestines to gluten.  Gluten is the common name for a protein found in specific grains, most specifically wheat.  Incase you were wondering, wheat is in everything.  From chips to crackers to bread to beer to even certain beauty products.  I'll spare you the details but it prevents my body from being able to absorb the necessary nutrients from my food.  I have to scrutinize every piece of food I put in my mouth.

When I was first diagnosed with this, I was relieved.  I had been feeling pretty terrible and it felt good to have a reason behind the misery.  But that feeling quickly left. I then moved to discouraged.  Then rebellious (not my best idea).  I used to love food, all kinds, and now I must watch everything I eat.

 Nowadays, I am just thankful that the medicine for this disease is simple, a gluten free diet. I still splurge from time to time.  You don’t realize how much you love a slice of pizza until you can’t have one. 

Advice because I’m supposed to be educating!  Don’t give up! It will get better!  Even more so, don’t rebel.  That was not one of my brightest ideas.  Educate yourself.  I read book after book about people who live an extreme gluten free lifestyle.  Like use two different toasters so the gluten crumbs from their husbands toast don’t touch their gluten-free crumbs.  Extreme.  It’s also easier to just look for ingredients you can’t have in a product rather than what you can have.  

Cheat list for beginning gluten free-ers:

All dairy products (sour cream, butter, cheese in the block form, yogurt, milk, cream cheese, etc)

Meat--any kind of meat that hasn't been pre seasoned or marinated in anything is safe to start cooking.  You can use most seasonings though

Veggies--eat your little heart out 

Fruit--Same thing, go for it

Good gluten free pasta: Heartland brand, I can only find it at Wal-mart but you can hardly tell the difference.

It becomes a lot easier over time.  And you’d be surprised how much is naturally gluten free!  Living gluten free is not always an easy choice.  But it’s the healthy one for me.  If you have any questions, I’ve been doing this for almost two years now so let me know! I’m happy to help!

Woo! Day two done!  Look at me go!

Until next time,

Blog Every Day in May: My life story in 250 words or less..

Okay I'm a day late and a dollar short on this blog every day in May thing okay? But I'm gonna give this my best effort!!

My life in 250 words or less huh?  Alright, here we go:

Born in a small town in Louisiana, I was a sweet tea drinkin, crawfish eatin, big hair wearin southern belle for the first 13 years of my life.  I am the youngest of my sister and two stepbrothers.  My family is the best one around.  (I know everyone says that, but seriously, mine is).  Now I am holdin down the fort in the good ol’ MidWest.  My life revolved around music, band to be specific growing up.  Music has a way of soothing the soul that I cannot even begin to put into words.  My stepdad has stage four brain cancer, and I thank the Lord for every day I get to spend with him.  I am a graduate of Missouri State University and am very proud of that fact.  I’ve wanted to be many things in my life: lawyer, dancer, broadcaster, wedding planner to name a few.  I now am a Sales Manager for the DoubleTree Hotel and am extremely thankful the opportunity to work for an incredible organization.  I love all things striped, purple, and anything that includes laughter and Harry Potter.  I am a cat mom to a little ball of trouble named Weasley, and I am the soon-to-be mom of a German Shepard named Gryffindor.  My boyfriend, Casey is the love of my life and I would be lost without him.  My life so far has been incredibly blessed, and I am excited to see where my life takes me from here!

[my little family]

The Adventures of being a Cat Mom

The adventures of being a cat mom never cease to keep me on my toes.  Never owning a cat, I had certain expectations about living with one.  Sharp claws, anti-social, not snuggly.  Just to name a few.

Maybe I should have changed my blog name to "Adventures of being a Cat Mom" because I could probably write a book on little Weasley.  He is so the opposite of what a cat is.

He's the biggest snuggler in all the land.

I post wayyyy to many pictures of my cat sleeping on Instagram.  But seriously, every time he climbs in my lap and snuggles in, it's just too cute for words.  I have to document it, I just have too!

Also, this little guy has to be in the middle of everything.  The situations he gets himself into are just hilarious.  He runs to the door when I come home, and always has to help me with whatever I'm doing. 

Although with the move, he has been a little stressed out.  Once he saw all his stuff being moved out of the apartment, he freaked out a little.  Then once we got over to the house, we thought with all his stuff he'd be okay.  But despite our best efforts, he spent the majority of the first week in our new house under the bed.  He's slowly coming around though, which is good because we have a new addition to our family coming home in about 3 weeks. 

Gryffin is now a 4 week old German Shepard puppy.  He will be coming home to us soon and we are hoping that him and Weasley will be best friends.  So stay tuned, soon it will be "The Adventures of being a Puppy Mom".  

My life is never dull, never.

xox,

New New New

Well let's see, I suck.  Okay maybe that's a little harsh.  But I have a hard time balancing my life with blogging.  I read all of your blogs all the time, and want to figure out a way to do the same.  I think the past few months I just wasn't feeling inspired enough to write.

So there's a lot of new around here.  New blog name, new background, and things of the sort.  Just decided it was time for a change.

There's also my new house.  Casey and I found the most perfect little rental home.  We are finally all settled in and are loving not having to climb 4 flights of stairs.  Did I mention the 2 car garage?

Did I also mention my new job?  I started as a Sales Manager for the DoubleTree Hotel about 2 weeks ago.  Talk about dream job.  I am so incredibly blessed to have this opportunity.  Loving where you work makes everything better.  Also, did I mention it's a 8-5 Monday - Friday job.  No more working on the weekends!!

Oh, and I bought a new car.  Jackson Jeep is my new 2013 Jeep Compass.  We are best pals, and I love driving that little SUV around.

My life is incredibly blessed with so many wonderful things right now to say the least.  

So maybe I can figure this out.  Stick with me?

xox,