Birchbox and Ipsy bag for November

Hello everyone!

I hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving, and got to enjoy a few days off of work or school! I was so glad that both my sister and brother came home and we all enjoyed a really relaxing day... I fell asleep at 7 PM and didn't wake up until this morning! I thought I would use this day off to write a new blog post and have been meaning to write a post about the things that came in both beauty blogs this month. Enjoy!

Birchbox: 

I was a little sad that the only makeup item that came in this month's Birchbox was a mascara, but at least I really like the mascara! The other items in this month's box included:

*Ayres body butter

*Golden Root purifying mud mask

*WEI Pomegranate Buffing Beads

*Fatty Sundays chocolate covered pretzel

The 2 main things that I like in this box are the mascara (shown below), and the buffing beads. I have been incorporating the buffing beads into my honey to wash my face and really love it! I have been applying the body butter to my dry hands before bed and although it is moisturizing, the smell is terrible! Okay, maybe not TERRIBLE, but not my favorite smell.

I have really enjoyed using this mascara made by eyeko London. It is a really wet formulation but makes your lashes look super voluminous and long. I have been using this mascara a ton this November and might even be one of my favorites for the month of November. 

IPSY: 

Ipsy has been KILLING it with their bags recently! If you are looking for something to add to your Christmas list, a subscription to this is it! I have been so pleased with the bags that I have received thus far. The theme of the this month's bag was "Glam Up" .... and really how cute is the little clutch that the make up came in? I love using the clutches they send me for travel. 

First, for the non make-up items... I was sent an Argan Oil and a Nailtini nail polish. The color of this nail polish is, "Cavier Cocktail." Perfect metallic shade to wear on your nails for the holidays. 

A swatch of the nail polish. Sorry about the terrible paint job, but wanted to show you all what the color looked like on nails! 

The first make-up product that came in my ipsy bag was this mascara by EM cosmetics. Michelle Phan was a fellow blogger and Youtuber and now has her own make-up line (how can I make this happen?!) Anyways, ipsy sent me a sample of this mascara which contains fibers to lengthen your lashes. I do have to admit that I like the mascara that was in my Birchbox better! I am not a huge fan of mascaras with fibers in them... I feel like they make my lashes look weird. BUT, for my readers, if you would like a 30% off coupon code for Michelle Phan cosmetics, head over to emcosmetics.com and type in the promo code ipsy30. 

The next make up product from my ipsy bag was a beauty bronzer from the line Pixi. I have seen this line many times at Target, but never bought anything! I am really liking this bronzer to glow up my pale skin. It has a slight shimmer in it to give your face a nice glow!

My ABSOLUTE FAVORITE things in this month's ipsy bag were this AMAZINGGGG lip crayon and GOORRGGEEEOOUUSSS eye liner. The lip crayon is from the make up line be a.. BOMBSHELL, and I am a huge fan of all of the things that I have tried from this line. The color is called, "Hot Damn." The eyeliner is from the make up line, Starlooks, and is in the color, "Amethyst."I really love all of the eyeliners from this make up line. I have received a black one from this line before, and have been using it almost everyday recently. Definitely one of my favorites for November (a blog post for November favorites coming soon)!

Overall, definitely thought the Ipsy bag was much better than the Birchbox for this month. I hope everyone has a great rest of their November, and will soon post a blog on all of my November favorites! Happy Thanksgiving weekend, everyone! 

Always remember to sparkle! 

Ally 

October Favorites!

Happy November! In honor of the beginning of November, I must post my favorite Thanksgiving play clip, EVER. Thank you Addam's Family Values for this amazingness!

If you have never watched this movie, go rent it! You won't regret it!

Anyways, onto the things that have been rocking my month of October. I hope everyone had a great October. I enjoyed mine very much! I got to visit my sister and spend time in the wonderful city of Manhattan, along with seeing my friends, Megan, and Timothy... I got to dress up like a Ninja Turtle and partake in a bowling tournament with friends... I lost about 10 years of my life going through a Haunted House at Dead Man's Farm...and I ended the month with a bang 20's style, dressing up as a flapper to celebrate my favorite holiday with my dear pharmacy friends in the Old City! 

Some of the Smith family's Halloween decor! 

Some pictures of my October/Halloween fun!

One of my favorite things to do every Halloween is to go see my favorite children, C and C, in their Halloween costumes! I can't believe how old they are both getting! I have pictures of my phone when little C couldn't even walk yet!

C and C through the years on Halloween! Can't believe how old they are getting! 

Onto my favorites..

I shall start with my beauty favorites for the month of October!

BEAUTY FAVORITES:

1. Real Techniques Foundation Brush

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I have been loving using this face brush to apply my foundation every day. It is great at blending my foundation into my skin, without leaving the streaking foundation marks that sometimes happen. I also like using this so that my hands don't get all messy with makeup while doing my foundation. I bought my foundation brush at ULTA, and it retails for $8.99. 

2. Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 Foundation

I believe this has been a favorite before, but it is a favorite again. I apply it with the brush mentioned in number. It is suppose to be a primer, concealer, and foundation all wrapped into one and while I am not sure if it does all that, it does have great coverage and lasting power! 

3. Urban Decay 24/7 glide on pencil liner

I picked this gem up at ULTA and have been loving it. These eyeliner's are super creamy and glide on the eye very smoothly. I have always heard great things about these Urban Decay liners, and they do not disappoint! I know for the holiday season, Urban Decay puts out a kit of eyeliners and so you can buy a bunch of colors in a bundle pack. I might have to get my hands on one of these because Urban Decay makes very fun colors and these have awesome lasting power! 

4. Kerastase Heat Protector Cream Product

Every time I go and get my hair colored and cut, I am always talked into buying products. SHOCKING, I know. Well, this product is a bit pricey but worth it! Not only does it smell heavenly, but it makes my hair feel silky smooth after I blow dry it. I have fairly thin hair, and so a lot of hair products leave my hair feeling weighed down or sticky/starchy feeling, but this product just leaves my hair smooth and shiny! And it is protecting it from all of the heat damage that I put my poor hair through. Sorry hair, but I have a love relationship with my blow dryer, Chi straightener, and Remington curling wand! 

5. Urban Decay's Naked Basics Palette

I use Venus for a highlight shade, Foxy is good to use all over the lid and also under the eyes for a brightening effect, Naked 2 is great to use for my brows, and Faint and Crave are great to create a smokey eye look. 

This is a continued favorite that I have been using everyday. It has the BEST neutral colors for everyday eye looks, and I also use the light brown shade to fill in my eyebrows. I took just this palette to NYC with me and could use it for eyebrows, eyeshadow, highlight, and to brighten my under eyes. I HIGHLY recommend buying this palette or asking it for Christmas. It can be used for every skin tone. 

Other Favorites for October:

1. Ellen's Halloween Haunts

I wait for Ellen in October every year! She always does such fun things.. with my favorite being when she sends her writer, Amy, through a haunted house. This year, she decided to send her producer, Andy, through with Amy.. and I have probably watched this 30 times because it is HILARIOUS. 

My friends and I also visited a Haunted House the day before Halloween. And I wish that we had video of us (well me and Brandi) because it was hysterical and terrifying. 

Get your creepy hand out of here! 

Such a fun night of laughter and haunts! 

2. Pumpkin!

Anything pumpkin that is... lattes, bread, ice cream... and if you all have not tried the Trader Joe's Pumpkin ice cream.. it is an ABSOLUTE must that you go buy it. It is the BEST pumpkin ice cream I have ever tasted! I think I maxed out my Starbucks account with the amount of pumpkin spice lattes that I drank, but they were all worth it! 

3. Songs: 

What Does The Fox Say? Ylvis

-I am a little late to this song, but it is SO catchy and so fun to listen to! 

Team- Lorde

-Love Royals by Lorde, and this one is also fantastic. 

Burn- Ellie Goulding

Sweeter Than Fiction- Taylor Swift

Me and My Girls - Fifth Harmony

Bruises - Train 

White Walls- Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

The entire PRISM album by Katy Perry -- with favorites being Walking on Air, Unconditonally, and Double Rainbow 

4. TV SHOWS

-American Horror Story: Coven -- so creepy, disturbing, and just outright AMAZING. 

Jessica Lange is SO fantastic. The first season is on Netflix and everyone should watch! But warning.. it is scary!

The Vampie Diaries -- and yes, I was in the background of the second episode of the season. That was quite the experience! Comment and let me know if you want me to write a blog about my experience of the set!

Just sweating profusely..next to the gorgeous Ian Somerholder ... this might have been hour 5 of our 14 hour workday! Yes, 14 hours! 

Cupcake Wars--- I aspire to make crazy good cupcakes with exotic flavors like these bakers someday.

Homeland-- My sister, Meggie, caught me up to speed on this show! Have been loving it!

Dancing With The Stars-- a September favorite that has continued into October. They are all so talented this year, so it is really up in the air who will win!

5. Fall Leaves

I am pretty sure I can sit and stare at the gorgeous colors of fall all day long. I sometimes go on joy rides around Knoxville to enjoy the beauty of fall. While I was in NYC, the fall leaves were just starting to turn, and I got some fantastic pictures. Last year in Boston, I had never seen such fall beauty! It will always be one of my favorite memories walking through the park with my mom and dad taking in all of the fall beauty.

I hope everyone had a great October! If you have a favorite thing that rocked your month of October, comment below.. would LOVE to hear it! Can't believe it is already November and almost times for all the holiday celebrations! I hope everyone has had a great start to November and the month is great! 

Until next time, 

ALWAYS REMEMBER TO SPARKLE! 

Ally