3.17.2016

I Love You Card

Good morning! Today I just have a pretty simple card to share with you.

If you are anything like me, there's always an excess amount of supplies to use up. I have quite a few project life cards, but they aren't really getting into albums. So I decided to take one and use it as my focal point for a card. Also, I cut the card base down so the b/w stripe paper can hang off both edges, yet the card can still fit in a standard envelope.





- Jessica

3.16.2016

Thank You Cards

The other day I realized I was lacking Thank You cards in my stash. Usually when I am trying to make a lot of cards at once I pick out some element that I can repeat on each card. That helps speed up the creating process. This time I used a stamp from Papertrey Ink and then cut it out. By simply stamping it with black ink on white cardstock it was easy to then add it to any color scheme.

Here are several of the cards that I made that day.


























 What's your favorite technique for mass producing cards?

- Jessica

3.15.2016

February Beauty Empties

Hello! Hope you are having a lovely week and getting accustomed to daylight savings time. I'm so happy there's still plenty of sunshine to see after work, but today I am exhausted.



This morning I wanted to share my recent beauty empties. I used to show these kinds of things on my youtube channel. But I'm not sure if that's the right platform for me. So I thought for now I'd just post about them here on my blog.



1. Caress Tahitian Renewal body wash // This is my umpteenth bottle of this stuff. It's my favorite body wash. The smell. The suds. The exfoliation. Yep, I'll buy more!

2. Mally Voumizing Mascara // This was the first Mally mascara I've used. It was pretty good. But I've used better and have several other brands in backup to try. So probably won't repurchase.

3. Sephora Brush Cleaner // Love this stuff. I keep it on my makeup table, spritz on brushes and wipe on a paper towel for a quick cleanse. I'm using Cinema Secrets right now, but so far I think the Sephora one might be my favorite.

4. L'Oreal Infallible Makeup Setting Spray // When I first tried this I didn't think it could possibly be as good as my Urban Decay Setting Spray. I was wrong! This is my 3rd bottle. Love it.

5. Body Shop Ginger Scalp Care Shampoo // This is another constant repurchase. I usually wait until they are having a sale and stock up on it, like 4 bottles at a time. Leaves my scalp feeling great and my hair loves it too.

6. It Cosmetics Bye Bye Redness Correcting Cream // Another product I loved! I could just apply this to my problem areas, add powder and go. No foundation needed. I'm trying to use up what I have now but I would definitely repurchase this in the future.

7. It Cosmetics Hello Lash Extensions Mascara // I've used fiber mascaras before and loved them. This one was kinda blah for my lashes.

8. Mac Fix + // If you saw my previous beauty post then you will know that I've already repurchased this product. Enough said.

9. Anastasia Clear Brow Gel // If you like a clear gel for your brows, this is a good one. Personally I just like a pencil or powder on my brows and no setting gel.

- Jessica

3.11.2016

February 2016 Book Report

I didn't read/listen to very many books in February. Honestly I was sick most of the month and just couldn't concentrate. Hoping to make a better dent this month.

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Murder In The Afternoon
by: Frances Brody

This is a murder mystery that is part of the Kate Shackleton series. I believe this is book #3, but it's the first book I've read in the series and I was able to stay in the story and didn't feel as though I was missing out by not having read the others in the series. I really liked this book. It reminded me very much of Miss Marple, only a younger version who's not quite as quick witted. I'd love to read the other books in this series. 



- - - - - - - - - -

Cavendon Hall
by: Barbara Taylor Bradford

If you like Downton-esque stories then this one is for you. It has the same uprstairs/downstairs story lines with drama and love triangles. I loved how this story started out and threw you right into drama. But then it seemed to clear it up fairly easily and the rest of the book I was waiting for more peaks of drama that just fell short for me. I believe there are now more books in this series but I think I'll pass on those.



- - - - - - - - - -

Cape Refuge
by: Terri Blackstock

So this was the first book in a very long time that I didn't finish. It was an audio book and I found the reader's southern accents too exaggerated for me. I think I could of pushed past that but honestly I was probably a quarter of the way in and the story wasn't drawing me in yet. I've never read any of Terri's books, but I'd give them another try.



- Jessica

3.10.2016

It's Your Big Moment Card

This is a card I made a while back. It came together so quickly and easily. And it's a great option for a masculine card!








- Jessica

3.09.2016

Hooray Card

Just popping by today to share this layered card I made. Hope you have a lovely Wednesday!








- Jessica

3.08.2016

Beauty Buys



I love a good shopping trip. Back in February I ran into my local Walgreens and Dillards just to pick up a few things and ended up walking out with all of these! It had been a while since I'd let myself buy any new products, because let's be honest, I have a million and one things I need to use up. Ha! But these were just calling to me.


1. Revlon Colorstay Foundation - 150 Buff & 200 Nude // This brand and formulation of foundation has been in my collection for years. My skin leans more toward the oily side, but both the normal/dry and combination/oily formulas work for me. The bottle I had was a darker shade from last summer and was old packaging. I was so excited they finally brought this out with a pump! I've worn the 150 by itself and in combination with a few other foundations that were a bit too dark for me. In fact my current favorite is to mix it with Dior Skin foundation.

2. Wet'n'Wild 1 Step Wonder Get - 722 B Missy In Pink // I was pretty excited to try this one. But it left me pretty disappointed. I did love the color and the fat brush which made for easy application. But the color went on streaky. Also, I wanted to truly test out the formula so I didn't apply a fast dry top coat like I'm used to and ended up with a ton of smudges. I will say though that for no top coat this wore quite well with no chipping.

3. L'oreal Infallible Pro Matte Gloss - 302 Fuchsia Amnesia // There might of been a momentary lapse in judgement when I picked this color. It's beautiful and I do love a pink, but it's too bright for me to wear on its own. Perhaps I've become to accustomed to wearing a nude lip. But, this has quickly become my go to lip product. I lightly apply it to my lips so it becomes like a stain. Then I apply either a gloss or layer another sheer lipstick over it.

4. L'oreal Nail Color - 207 Pinot Purple // I've tried this formulation before and I think it's a great one. Not perfect but the application is great and it's wear time is on par with most of my other polishes. This color was gorgeous in the day, the perfect purple. But at night or in a dimly lit area it comes across almost black.

5. Mac Fix + // This is another product that is not really new to me. I had a small bottle for years that I used when I'd foil on eyeshadows. But after watching a youtuber douse her face in it once her makeup was done to combat any extra powder on my face I decided to get a new bottle. After I've applied all my makeup, except for mascara and lip product I soak my face in this product and then use a piece of paper to fan it dry. Sometimes I follow up with a setting spray but most days I've been very happy with just the fix +.

6. Mac Prep + Prime - Radiant Rose // Another oldie but goodie product I've used. This is great to put over concealer around the eye area to add some brightness. Just be careful not to add too much!

- Jessica