Sunday, August 18, 2013

New Calling

I've been working really hard on my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ over the last few months. I still have a long way to go, but I'm ready for a calling.
I'm the new Raleigh 2nd Ward Primary Secretary!
I'm really excited.
I went to primary today and even though every calling I've had in the past has been in primary I have no idea how things are run behind the scenes. What little I did know is completely different here.
For example, as a primary teacher, one of my responsibilities was to take roll for my class each Sunday and turn it into the secretary. Here the secretary takes roll for the entire primary. I bet that takes away any stress of having a teacher forget.
As a primary teacher, assignments for opening exercises was my class's responsibility once a month or less. I asked for volunteers, and I'd give them slips of paper to take to their parents. I'd also call them the Saturday before and remind them. Here the secretary makes the assignments depending on who hasn't done something in a while and is hopeful that they come the following Sunday. The secretary also plans a backup scripture and talk in case the children forget or are absent.
I want to do the best I can with everything, but I think the first thing I need to do is learn the kids' names...

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Type 3 vs. Type 4

Hopefully this doesn't come as a shocker to anyone, but my mom and I don't really get along.

This video is exactly why.


For those of you who don't really know me or my mom well, I'm a definite Type 4. My mom is either a 1/3 or a 3/1.  So... this video really spoke to me.




Friday, August 16, 2013

ipsy August Glam Bag

My bag came super early this month!  I actually received it on the 10th of the month, when normally that's when they begin shipping the bags out.

Winning!

This post is pretty long, but...
August's glam bag is my favorite so far!

What is ipsy?

Each month, subscribers will receive a beautiful Glam Bag with deluxe samples and full-sized beauty products. Members can watch and play along with the stylists with the same products that they are using. All for only $10 a month.  (From ipsy's site.)

Something I haven't mentioned in the past is that glam bag subscribers get discounts on the brands that are featured in the ipsy bag each month, even the products you don't receive. So, if you get a sample and love it you can buy it for cheaper than you would normally have to pay. Or, if you don't get a product that you really wanted, you can buy it with your discount.

You also take a beauty quiz that is supposed to help ipsy match products to you, so you get things that you'll actually like if there are alternates.  For example, this month people could get an Urban Decay lipstick or a Noya lip balm. The goal was to get the lip balm to the people who aren't big fans of lipstick. 

This month, the theme was "Back to School."  The bag was adorable and made me think of Harry Potter. Totally keeping it.


  • Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in 69. Deluxe sample size. Full size is $22 if you buy it from Urban Decay's website. Estimated value: $7.33.
This photo doesn't really show its true color. It really is more red than that, but it does have pink undertones.
This lipstick.  I don't know if I was in a super good mood on Sunday, or if this is a super good lipstick that put me in a good mood. I felt sexy wearing it. The texture was creamy and smooth. The color wasn't shimmery or shiny, and it also wasn't matte, it was the perfect balance between the two. The color when first applied was a perfect red. Not orange, not pink, red. I did not use a lip liner, and this lipstick did not feather out past my natural lips.

I applied it before I went to church, and reapplied it before my last class in church.  The picture below was taken 6 hours after reapplication.


So, the lipstick color isn't perfect in this picture... It has faded to a hot pink rather than being a bright red. However, what did I do in those 6 hours between reapplication and this picture?  I had a toddler touch my mouth repeatedly. I drank a glass of water AND a can of soda. I ate dinner. I had an interview.

I have NEVER had lipstick still look that good after eating and drinking, and 6 hours of wear.  Moral of the story?  I bought this lipstick.  I bought the full size, $22 lipstick.  The discount from ipsy was free shipping... which really isn't much of a discount, except that shipping is freaking $8. I'm feeling a bit of buyers' remorse, but not really because of the price, but because I want MORE colors. Specifically, I want Jilted and Rapture.

Jilted - Photo from makeupandbeautyblog.com

Rapture - Photo from makeupandbeautyblog.com
GET ALL THE COLORS!
  • Michael Todd Pumpkin Nutrient-Rich Facial Mask. Deluxe sample size. Full size is $34 if you buy it from Micheal Todd's wesbite. Estimated value: $11.56.

This mask smells absolutely wonderful, like fresh pumpkin! It reminds me of Thanksgiving a few years ago when my sister, Elise, decided to make pumpkin pies out of fresh pumpkin instead of canned pumpkin. Totally delicious.

The texture feels like pureed pumpkin with a tiny amount of sand in it. It's just barely gritty.  When applied to the face, it tingles a little. The smell is better in the bottle than when it's on your face, but the smell is not bad. A little bit goes a long way, so this sample will last me a while!

I'm not sure if I noticed any specific benefits from this mask, but the day after I used it, my sister, Emilee, told me that I have nice skin. So there's that.
  • Pixi Beauty Lash Booster Mascara in Blackest Black. Sample size. Full size is $17 if you buy it from Pixi Beauty's website. Estimated value: $7.14. 
 How cute is that tiny tube of mascara? I've never seen anything like it before! I just purchased a brand new mascara, so it might be a while before I try this one.
  • MicaBeauty Eyeshadow in Bronze. Full size. $14.95 if you buy it from MicaBeauty's site.
    • Claims: MicaBeauty® Mineral Eye Shadows’ glamorous shimmers will give you the look you always wanted.
      MicaBeauty® Mineral Makeup is extremely gentle, free of preservatives, chemicals, dyes, talc, oils, and other fillers.
      With this unique formula, your Eye Shadows will look ultra smooth and stay put for hours without creasing or pulling the delicate eye area.
      (From MicaBeauty's site.)


I think I would love this if it were in another color. I'm cool toned, yadda yadda yadda. This is a warm golden bronze color. It's totally gorgeous, but it wouldn't work on me. And therefore, I will be keeping it unopened so I can either trade it on the ipsy swap page, or give it away as a gift when I go visiting teaching, or something like that. Or I could sell it. Whatevs.
  • Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer. Deluxe sample size. Full size is $36 if you buy it from Smashbox's website. Estimated value: $9.00.
This is a really good primer. However, you can buy something extremely similar for $6.  Behold:

Monistat Chafing Powder-Gel. I've been using this as a primer for four months now. It has not caused me to break out, or have any skin issues whatsoever. I've heard that it's similar to Smashbox Photo Finish primer, but I did not know how similar it was until I tried Smashbox's.  Honestly, if you put one of these on one hand, and the other on the other hand, I would not be able to tell a difference. They have the same texture and feel to them, and my makeup is just as perfect with one as it is with the other.  So, safe yourself some dough, and buy the chafing gel.

Recap:
.03 oz Urban Decay Lipstick sample: $7.33
1 fl oz Michael Todd Pumpkin Mask sample: $11.56
.105 oz Pixi Beauty Mascara sample: $7.14
.1 oz MicaBeaty Eyeshadow: $14.95
.25 fl oz Smashbox primer: $9.00

Total Bag Value: $49.98

Here's my referral link if you want to join: http://www.ipsy.com/?refer=u-hh1dhitczm8r4e9

To Wherever the Wind May Take Us

**Bonus points of you can name the movie my title is from!**

I'm sad.

I drove my mom and two sisters to the airport today.  They'll be in Utah for a little over a week for Elise's wedding.

I'm heading out to Utah next Friday.  I'll have Lily. Lance isn't able to go.  I'm terrified to fly alone with Lily.  Three hours of church are hard enough with her. At least at church she can run around between classes.  On an airplane she will be on my lap the entire time. She will hate me. Everyone near me on the flight will hate me.

But yeah, I'm sad.  I have so much fun with my sisters. I'm going to miss them.  What on earth am I supposed to do all day without them here?

I've been playing Settlers of Catan at least twice daily. Hand and Foot maybe once.  They keep me company late at night while I'm working...  Now it's so quiet and lonely.

Lance got a job. Sort of. A company hired him for a couple of days to see if he would work out as their team lead in their warehouse. Today was his first day. Lance isn't sure how he feels about it yet, so he's not sure if he'll stay.  Mostly, he just feels like we're supposed to move to another area.  I'm not sure how I feel. I'm definitely ready for things to go back to normal.

Normal meaning, having our own place and our own routine.

But then again, I'll definitely get lonely after being used to having people around for the past month.


I think Lance is leaning towards moving to another state. So I guess we'll see where the wind blows us.

Friday, August 2, 2013

ipsy August Glam Bag - Sneak Peeks

It's a new month!  August bags will be on their way soon!


Seriously, I cannot believe it's already August.  July was a blur for me and my little family.

I mean, hello, it's not every day your husband willingly quits his job, you say goodbye to your friends and family, pack up your life, and move 2,147 miles across the country.

Anyhow - August sneak peeks have started!

Note: I'll update this post as more sneak peeks are released.

Sneak Peek #1 - July 31:


I'm so, so, so excited!  The two lipsticks are from Urban Decay!  Then there are two chapsticks, which I hear are from Noya. I've never heard of Noya.  Everyone will get one of these items. Please, oh please let me have the fuschia Urban Decay lipstick!

Sneak Peek #2 - Aug 1:


I seriously have no idea what these are, so I checked my favorite blog that posts ipsy spoilers. (Which is Glamorable!, for those interested.) Supposedly these are Michael Todd products. One is a mask and the other a scrub. I've never heard of Michael Todd products before, but I don't have a facial scrub or a mask so I'm super excited to get one of these items to try!

I love how sparkly the pictures are so far! I love sparkles!  I love ipsy!

Sneak Peek #3 - Aug 2:


I Googled "lash booster" and found this product from Pixi. A $17 mascara?  Yes please.  Too bad I just purchased a new mascara the other day...  So it looks like I won't be reviewing this one for a while.

Sneak Peek #4 - Aug 5:


One thing I for sure recognize is the Mai Tai Nailtini from last month, and what appears to be an NYX blush. So... leftovers from previous bags?  I don't really have a problem with that, unless they give those to people who got them in previous months.  I believe I count 7 products. Can't wait to see what they all are!  And even more so, I can't wait to see what I get!

 Sneak Peek #5 - Aug 6:


And here is the bag.  I was hoping for a glittery bag, but, this one is pretty cute. I love the "glamour academy" idea.

If you're interested, here is my referral link for ipsy: http://www.ipsy.com/?refer=u-hh1dhitczm8r4e9

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Day Trip

Hello friends and family!

Last Saturday we took a 2 hour drive and went to some wonderful places.

The first stop was a little buffet in a podunk town called Wilmington.

Fact: One Tree Hill was my favorite TV show before it got cancelled. Well, actually, after season 5 I kind of lost interest, however up until then I was a loyal fan.  One Tree Hill was filmed in... you guessed it, Wilmington, North Carolina.

I did not know this until we were there.  I wanted very much to drive around to the different landmarks that are shown on the show, such as THE rivercourt, Dan Scott Motors, Lucas's house, Brooke's house, the high school (which is actually a college)... and more!

I'm such a geek.

No, we did not see any of these things.

We did, however, eat at a delicious buffet.  Probably the best buffet in America.  It's called Casey's, and they had sweet potatoes.  The kind I make for Thanksgiving!  Butter, sugar, marshmallows, a touch of apple....   I was in heaven.  Everything else I tried was pretty darn delicious as well.

Then we went to the world's worst aquarium, which is in Fort Fisher, NC.

Then we stopped at the beach for 15 minutes.  Lily had tons of fun, and did NOT want to leave.

We took her pants off and let her run around.

Making footprints with aunt Jess.



 


It was a fun day.