Happy (almost) New Year!

This year opened so many doors for me- a new home (Chicago!), new school, new friends (who I cannot be more thankful for), and of course this blog!  I don't know how to show what it means to me to be able to come here and post about one of my favorite things, but I am so fortunate.  YOU guys make me want to blog every time.  With that said (and I have to make this short because I'm running late!), thank you for an awesome year!  2011 can only be better.
Hope you all have a fun and safe night.  I'm just working today and then my cousins will come over later for pizza/movies.

Oh, and quick note about my trip to Sephora yesterday- the next shade darker than Fairly Medium (in Bare Minerals) was Medium, which was too dark for me.  However, the SA told me I could exchange the Warmth all-over face color for another one if I couldn't get it to work for me.  I might go for A Little Sun or Faux Tan, which look to be slightly lighter and just more of actual bronzer products than Warmth is.
Stay tuned for a MAC post- can't wait to share it with you all!

(Maybe) Back To School Outfit & A Few Randoms

I really hadn't thought about planning my "first day of school outfit" since I only have one class that day (My schedule worked out really nicely this semester.  On Tuesdays and Thursdays I have two classes, then Wednesdays and Fridays I have one each.  Mondays I have off).  With all the posts I've read lately about back-to-school, though, I've been thinking more about it!  You guys have some awesome ideas for school hair/makeup and the like.  I'm pretty sure this is what I want to wear, but obviously it could change in the next three weeks.
The two clothing items here are actually ones that I "can't" wear yet- they're birthday presents, haha.  Typically my mom would come to the mall with me so I could show her a few things I really wanted, but today since I had been wanting to go to Pac Sun, I decided to just buy what I found and she could wrap them for me.
FYI, I haven't been to Pac Sun in YEARS.  When I used to go in there, it was all skater/grunge-type clothing.  They definitely have expanded!  They have a lot of clothes that are my style, and I was pleasantly surprised- they also are pretty affordable (I thought the prices were comparable to Forever 21).  They have all tops buy 3 get 1 free which includes cardigans/sweaters, so I was able to get a pretty good deal.
Anyway, excuse the rant!  This is what I'm planning to wear for my first class:

Knit dress: Pac Sun

Cardigan: Pac Sun

Belt: Urban Outfitters

Necklace: For Love 21 (F21 accessory store)

Sandals: Urban Outfitters

On another makeup-related note, I've been casually looking for a cheap makeup travel bag that holds makeup brushes.  I found one at Walmart today for a little over $5:

It doesn't feel of the highest quality (For $5 I didn't really expect that), but it's the right size I need for traveling.  I think I'll still look for a small pouch that I can throw in my purse or backpack (Something a little smaller), but if I need to use this, I think it will work.  I love the different slots for brushes.  These makeup taking your brushes along no problem at all!

Random question, but I'd love your opinions/answers.  I've been saving up my money hardcore, and what I really want to do is go to the MAC counter when I get to Chicago this weekend and buy something.  I never thought I'd be able to justify a MAC purchase, but I think I'm ready, lol!  As long as it's under $20 I'd be fine.  I'm lemming Viva Glam Gaga lipglass and I want to check out the Fabulous Felines collection, too.  Nothing has jumped out at me from collection previews but maybe in person something will.  I'm excited!  Any recommendations?  

Alright, time for bed.  Have a good night guys!

Non beauty-related post: Preparing for college

Hey guys, today's post is going to be a little different and not about beauty.  It's about college and how I am (and still very much in the process of) preparing for it!  I'm definitely a procrastinator when it comes to school.... and getting ready to leave has turned out to be no exception.  I'm excited, don't get me wrong, but it's still a hassle having to pack and think about everything I'll need.
I'm hoping this will help any of you going away to school who are in the same situation as me, and find yourself not quite sure what to get/pack.  I know I'll happily take any advice I can get, and my 10-years-older sister has also been a great help!  She keeps reassuring me that I'll have time after I move into my dorm to get anything I forgot, in case it happens.

I have most of the necessities for my classes besides my textbooks.  I'm taking five classes, so I got my notebooks/folders for each of them, along with pencils and index cards.

The folders I got from Target, and the notebooks I got from Walmart and Walgreens (Walgreens has notebooks BOGO free this week!).  This is the one area I feel fairly prepared for.

In terms of dorm stuff.... not so much.  My mom and I did go out shopping yesterday and came home with quite a few things from my list, but I still don't have a comforter and other randoms.  Quite a few things we're waiting to buy once we get there and see what my room is like, though (Full-length mirror, blankets, decorations, shower curtain, etc).  We have towels, wash cloths, and other things like that here that I'll take with.

I'm quite pleased with the things we found, though!  At TJ Maxx I got a dry-erase/cork board, a shower caddy, and an organizer to put cards (and makeup palettes!) in:

I didn't tell my mom but that pink organizer will hold my ELF beauty book palettes perfectly.  Thanks Becky for the idea!  :)

Part of the reason I hadn't gotten more prior to this week is because I'm so darn particular.  I can't find the "right" bedding, and none of the decorations or dishes I found were unique enough.  We went to Target and I threw my hands up and just bought some things I really needed:

They have 4-packs of cups and plates for $1.99 each.  And they do have little designs on them, so they aren't totally plain.  Cute and cheap.  Sounds good to me!  I also got a bowl just to have for fruit and stuff.

This just screams "college" to me.  Yeah, I'll need these.

And the last thing I'll post here is the lamp I got for $14 at Target.  I didn't want to get a lamp before I found my bedding, but since I probably won't find bedding until I move, I gave in.

I also have a few other things I got, but I didn't want to make this into some kind of college 'haul' post.  These are items I know I'll get usage from on a daily basis.  And, I feel so much more prepared!

Are you going away to school?  What are you bringing?  I'd love to hear any advice you have.  Thanks so much!

Just a heads up & thank you!

In regards to my last post (my review on the VS eyeshadow primer), I'm going to update the AM/PM pictures later tonight with different ones.  A commenter kindly pointed out that with my neutral makeup, it's hard to tell that the primer did its job.  Thanks for telling me about that!  I still did neutral makeup today but I tried to add more depth to my eyeshadow and make it darker (and from the pictures I just took, I think these will be much better in showing how the primer worked).

I have a couple of reviews I'm wanting to do in the near future, one being on those Studio Tools brushes sold at Target.  I bought the Kabuki brush yesterday.  My smaller Target doesn't sell many of them at all, so if I get off work early today I'll go to the bigger one and see if they have more.  I'd like to do a review on these mainly because they are super inexpensive and available to most everyone.  I'm also obsessing over the idea of having new brushes (That are cheap but get the job done).  I was going to place my order for those Coastal Scents brushes I posted about, but they are now sold out of the duo-fiber stippling brush and white angled liner.  I'll just have to wait!

Lastly, I wanted to quick thank you all so much for supporting/encouraging me through my blog.  I recently hit 100 followers, and it's incredibly rewarding to come here every day and know people at least somewhat enjoy what I post!  I started this and keep doing it for myself, because I love it, but it's always reinforcing to be in this great community.

I have to go to work now; hope you all have a good Saturday!

Wisdom Teeth=Gone

So I finally got my wisdom teeth taken out this morning.  I wasn't too nervous going into it (Which is funny since I have a pretty big phobia of the dentist/teeth), mainly because my dentist has said several times that they're not impacted and shouldn't be a problem to remove.
Well, we get to the oral surgeon's office and are reading over the paperwork/agreement stuff.  What does it say?  Three of my teeth are partially impacted, and one is completely impacted.  Then I read another paper explaining the risks of surgery and types of sedation.  I had been expecting to be "consciously sedated"- where they put you to sleep, but not fully.  I guess this surgeon typically does general anesthesia, which is the normal "knocking you out, keeping you under".
That made me the most nervous.  I kept having nightmares about not waking up, haha.
But anyway, they took my blood pressure at first, which was surprisingly a little low (I thought it'd be like racing!).  They hooked me up to the IV, and that's when I got really anxious and started feeling light-headed.  So my blood pressure dropped, they gave me some blood pressure medication, and something to reduce the nausea.
That's when I fainted.  LOL.
When I came to, they started the anesthesia, and that's the last I remember!

I'm still not in any pain- it's been really nice!  I've been super tired, though.  My boyfriend told me once the numbness goes away a little I'll start feeling more pain.  But so far it's been OK.
I have this really stylist sock that has ice packs inside, which wraps around my head to help with swelling.  Haha.  Even though I'm crazy insecure right now, here it is:

Hahahaha.  Have a good day!

NOTD: 10 Nail Lacquer Spring Awakening

This is possibly my most favorite nail polish right now, and I'm not even saying that because I received it as a gift.  The other light purple I have in my collection is one from The Icing, and it's lighter than this and is muted.  This isn't too "bright and bold", but it's definitely not muted.  Spring Awakening is a gorgeous purple creme with blue undertones (I apologize for not being better at describing nail polishes- it's a weakness of mine).

10 Professional Nail Lacquer is a fairly new line that is sold exclusively at CVS stores.  I think they are considered a "higher, more professional quality" line compared to another new brand of nail polishes only at CVS, Confetti.  10 Professional Nail Lacquer retails for $3.99 a bottle, and Confetti for $1.99.

The application of this color was great.  I haven't tried any of the others since I don't have a CVS within range, so I can't speak for the rest of the line.  However, if you can access these, I'd recommend this shade for an affordable, beautiful nail polish!

Speaking of CVS, I'm so so excited to go to Chicago (I've mentioned it before I think but I'm starting school at Columbia College this fall).  There is a CVS within walking distance from me, I'm pretty sure! I did a store search and there are several in Chicago, and the one I'm thinking of in particular should be just down the street and around the corner from where my school is located.  Awesome!

(LOL, who ever thought someone would be so excited to go to a CVS?)

I'm also happy to be near a MAC counter, Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, etc etc etc.  One thing I dislike about living in the Midwest is the lack of available shopping.  If it's not in the town you live in, it's probably not within a couple hundred miles.  I grew up and spent most of my life in California (We just moved out here a couple of years ago), so I'm really not used to "towns"!

Anyway, sorry about the rant.  I do have a question for anyone who can answer.  I've been meaning to use this Neutrogena $3.00 off coupon I have, and I'm interested in either the Healthy Skin Enhancer tinted moisturizer, or the Healthy Skin Glow Sheers.  

Has anyone used either of these?  Would you recommend one or the other, or should I skip both?  

Thanks so much!  Hope you all had a great weekend.

Update- Back in Town Tomorrow

Hey everyone!  I hope your weekend was good; mine definitely was.  :)  I spent WAY more money than I wanted to on this trip, but I'm coming home with some fun things that I'm happy I "splurged" on (Quotation marks because I really didn't spend too much money, but it feels like it for me).
Today we went to a Nordstrom Rack, my 2nd one, and like my first visit I bought something!  This time it was a pair of jeans.  I just love that store.  The first one I went to was in California, but this one was like 2x bigger.  Just huge!
I've done so much shopping this weekend that I think I'm tired of it now; can you believe it?  I never thought I'd be able to say that about shopping.  Thank goodness, though, because I really don't want to spend any more money.  We were even going to go to another CVS today, but I didn't want to be tempted to buy makeup, so I opted not to go.  I am a little bitter: we went to one CVS Saturday, and it didn't have much for 50% or 75% off beauty products.  I was really hoping to go to another one today and find some good deals.  But alas, I spent my money on things I probably needed more than makeup.  :)  I can't wait to show you everything I got when I get home!

This was just another somewhat pointless update, but I wanted to tell you about my lovely weekend.  I got to see my baby cousin (Who turned 1 yesterday, happy birthday baby girl!), my relatives, and my sister; we got to shop and eat out at yummy restaurants, which is one of my favorite things to do!

Thanks for still reading and paying attention to my blog.  You all are amazing!

I'm Going to CVS Tomorrow! (+Shopping Rant)

Yes, finally!  The last time I went to one was in March, when I visited my sister out in California, which was before the beauty semi-annual sale began (I think, or I just didn't know about it so I didn't look closely for clearance items).  I don't live near a CVS so I never get to go!  I think the sale is still going on, right?  I'm sure most of the good items are gone by now, but I'm still excited to go and see what's left.  That's one thing I wish Walgreens had- a semi-annual beauty sale!

Anyway, I'm having such a great time here in Minneapolis.  Today we went to the Mall of America.  My mom HATES going there because of the crowds, but we ended up staying for over four hours.  I got some clothes from Forever 21 and Heritage 1981 (A sub-brand of F21), as well as a necklace from For Love 21, F21's accessory store, and guess what!?  I FOUND A PURSE!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(You can stop reading here if you don't want to listen to me ramble about my purse adventure, haha)

If I haven't mentioned it on here yet, I have seriously been looking for "the perfect bag" for a long, long, long time.  I'm so darn picky and I'm also super cheap, so combine the two and I could NOT find a purse.  I figured that if I couldn't find one at the Mall of America, I'd probably be out of luck.  But not to worry!  I found one, and I'm so happy with it!  It's from ALDO, it's medium-brown shiny leather-looking (Like my description?), it has gold hardware, and it was $51 after tax.  I had my mother, sister, and the saleswoman all talking me into buying it and telling me I deserved it.  I can talk myself out of buying anything, even if I just LOVE it, so I'm incredibly happy they told me I should get it.  It's just what I wanted.  When I get home, be sure I'll post pictures!

I didn't mean to explain that for so long, sorry!  LOL.  Anyway, I promise I'll make a nice post about my trip when I get home.  For now I have to just tell you that I'm having a great time!
<3