current obsession; latest beauty buys

song of the day: love songs, anjulie

how are you doing? how's your week going so far? hope your tuesday is treating you well. don't have much time again today, just sharing my beauty obsessions as of late.

bright eyes
lately i've been skipping eyeliner altogether, instead i've been dabbing a light eyeshadow in the corners of my eyes for a look that widens them and make them look instantly awake. i just dab it along the natural v, but definitely trace farther along the top lid. and since i've started i've noticed blake lively does it all the time, on and off the show. she often uses white shadow in her corners, but that's a little too stark for me. tan or pale gold just right for darker skin tones. silver's also really cool for a night look. add a swipe of mascara, and i'm good to go!

madison mauve
at first, i wasn't so ecstatic that maybelline revamped their entire lipstick line earlier this year. the first two i tried were flops. but i finally found a plum that works for me. it's good to wear or stain. i don't care too much for the smell, but i love that it lasts forever. (pardon my bizarre expression in the photo, what's important here is the lipstick, not how deliriously happy i was at my birthday party.)


essie
remember way back when i was talking about matte nails? i'm officially a believer. i bought the matte about you top coat and i haven't stopped using it since. although, i think half the fun might be watching it change. i also got mint green candy apple and it's one of my favourite colours of the season. my tips? apply a good basecoat, because you can't put top coat on a matte nail. also, make sure the nail is completely dry before applying the matte topcoat.

that's all for now. but i'd love to know, what's on your nails right now?

xoxo
-B.

current obsession; 5 minute chocolate cake

song of the day: haven't met you yet, michael buble

i should be working but instead i'm wholed up in the library watching michael buble videos. then i realized, if i'm already slacking off, i might as well be blogging! so now i'm scrambling desperately to get caught up on all the wonderful blogs i've been missing. i feel like i have so much to tell you! i know some of these are super old, but here are the things i'm loving so far:

♥ this post from college fashion about finding and maintaining your personal uniform.
(i think mine right now, is definitely, long cardigans, tanks and boots of all types. comfy and cute!)

♥ this fab article about connecting with your inner creative writer.

♥ interesting article about the vampire "trend."

♥ the post from whowhatwear has me considering pouncing on the leopard accent trend.
(i would LOVE a pair of leopard print flats, i think.) and this post from elle has me rethinking faux fur and more excited about where the wild things are.

♥ according to stylecaster, H&M is FINALLY going to launch a full website. not that i think this'll help curve my shopping cravings any... it might actually just make it worse.

i'm still only HALFWAY through the blogs i usually check. and this is how i've been making it through long studying nights. i'm not sure if i'm helping or hurting by passing this one. a couple weeks ago my friend K posted a recipe for a 5-minute chocolate cake. the recipe is super simple.


ingredients: 4 tablespoons of flour, 4 tablespoons of sugar, 2 tablespoons of cocoa, 1 egg, 3 tablespoons of milk, 3 tablespoons of oil, and a splash of vanilla extract. 3 tablespoons of chocolate chips are optional.

instructions: toss it all in a mug, stir, and pop it into the microwave for three minutes.

granted, it looks a little funny and doesn't taste quite the same, but it sure does in a pinch. i've been loving it with ice cream and caramel sauce. even if you bake it (for 25 minutes at 325 F) it's awesome to have just a personalized serving of it! my sweet tooth rejoices! so tasty! if i wasn't school i'd be making some right now.

gotta jet! hope your tuesday is treating you well!

lovelovelove,
-B.

borrowed the picture from K's blog!