The "Me-Time" Tag

What do you watch or read during me-time?

I definitely watch YouTube videos the most during my spare time. I just updated my list of favourite channels so you can check that out HERE. Also, my TV game is strronngg this season - you can check out what I've been watching HERE. As for reading, I don't tend to read for pleasure that much during the semester because I always have readings to do for school, however I've been using Audible a ton and I think I'll write up a post on that.

What do you wear during me-time? #nobra

#Nobra is right! I like to be comfy when I relax, so sweatpants and a loose t-shirt is definitely the way to go. Also, fuzzy socks. I have like, 5 pairs of fuzzy socks.

Current favourite nail polish?

To be honest, I think my favorite nail polish at the moment is Sally Hansen Xtreme Hard As Nails in "Black Out". Black nail polish, applied really neatly on short nails, is just very chic to me. Also, the formulation of this nail polish range is so perfect. It's my go-to whenever I'm looking for a specific shade.

What do you eat/drink during me-time?

I guess this is probably a seasonal thing, but I've been binge eating Halloween candy like crazy! Ahh! So bad. If I'm going for comfort nothing really beats a latte or hot chocolate in a big old mug.

Current favourite candle?

I haven't been burning candles much lately which is basically a crime because I own so many. However, I really love "Autumn" from Bath & Body Works for this time of year. It's so crisp and it smells like apples and fresh air. It's fantastic.

Do you ever have outdoor me-time?

Well, if by "outdoors" you mean "in nature", then no. But I do like to leave the house during me-time. The book store is a no-brainer for me - browsing the shelves (particularly the sale and stationery sections) is like instant relaxation. Otherwise, I'll make a trip to the coffee shop near my house, grab a latte, and watch some YouTube videos.

Would you ever go see a movie alone?

I always say I'd go to see a movie alone, but it has yet to happen! I feel like going to the movies is a commitment - that's like 1.5-3 hours sitting in one spot, and it's always best to have some company. So, even though I'd like to think I wouldn't mind going alone, I'm not sure it'll ever happen.

Favourite online shop?

My favourite online shop is, hands down, Nail Polish Canada. I can waste so much time on that website. Other than that, I don't tend to shop online much (unless I have a specific thing I want to buy) because I'm always skeptical about things breaking in transit or not turning out as I expected.

Anything to add? What else do you do during me-time?

The only other thing I do regularly during me-time is blog, which, if you've noticed the scarcity of my posts this year, you can tell I don't really have much free time. Sad. Hopefully I can sneak in some more blogging soon!

The One and Only TAG

Hey everyone! Back to beauty stuff for today's post. I had this tag saved in my drafts for a while and I thought it was finally time to give it life. I got it from Coffee and Cosmetics, and it's called "the One and Only Tag".

The idea is simple, you just have to answer the same question for all categories: If you could only have one ____, what would it be and why?

Primer - This is easy. The only face primer I have ever used and absolutely loved is the L'Oreal Magic Perfecting Base. I've said it again and again, but nothing else I've tried even compares! It's on the more expensive end of drugstore products (around $20 in Canada), but it's still cheaper than Sephora brands. I don't know why, but my face really responds well to it! Definitely try it out if your skin tends to get oily throughout the day.

Base Product - Also easy. My number one foundation has to be the Marcelle Hydra-C Foundation. I'm still so dumbfounded that they've discontinued it. I'm on my last bottle and I'm super bummed about it. The shade I use, Natural Beige, is the perfect match for my skin, and it's full-coverage without feeling too heavy.

Blush - I tend to vary my blushes a lot, but one that I constantly gravitate towards is the MAC blush in Pinch O' Peach. It's one of the only pink-toned blushes I use, and what I like about it is that it's quite sheer so it doesn't come on too strong, but it still shows up on your cheeks. If you're new to makeup I would recommend this one because it's very easy to manage.

Highlighter - MAC Soft & Gentle is pretty much the only highlighter I use. I've tried out liquid highlighters in the past, but they don't really do it for me. Soft & Gentle is subtle, but noticeable in the sunlight, and the champagne-y shade doesn't look too harsh. I find whiter/pinkier highlighters tend to be too much against my skintone.

Eyebrow product - My eyebrows are naturally quite thick and dark, so I can definitely go without filling them in, but what I do love to use is a good brow gel to keep them in place throughout the day. I've been using Maybelline Great Lash clear mascara for as long as I can remember, and it definitely does the trick. I don't think I could ever justify buying the Anastasia brow gel, because the Maybelline clear mascara is inexpensive, but effective.

Mascara - Mascara is definitely something I like to switch up in my makeup stash. I'm currently loving one from Annabelle, but my all-time favorite has to be Benefit They're Real. The formula is perfect, the wand separates the lashes incredibly, and nothing gives you the "false lash" look quite like it (...aside from wearing false eyelashes haha).

Concealer - I have to say, concealer is something I tend to struggle with. It's only as of recently that I found one I really enjoy, and it's the NARS creamy concealer in Vanilla. I think it blends really nicely and can be built up for maximum coverage. My only issue is that it's not a color that works all over my face... It covers up the redness near my nose, but if I use it close to my chin/jawline it looks too orange. Still, the formulation is great and it's the best concealer I've used thus far.

Powder - My all-time favorite powder is Rimmel Stay Matte in translucent. It's just the best. It's cheap, it works, and I haven't yet found myself craving a higher end setting powder at all. It works well enough to keep me satisfied, and I feel incomplete without it in the morning.

Bronzer - I've tried a few drugstore products in hopes to find a match for it, but NARS Laguna remains the best bronzer for me. If you go back in the archives of this blog, I'm pretty sure you'll find that I was using and loving Laguna since the very beginning. It's the perfect shade, and it has a slight shimmer that doesn't look crazy, but gives you just the right amount of glow. Really perfect product.

Makeup brush - A brush that I absolutely love using every day is the Real Techniques Multi Task brush. I personally use it for blush, but it can definitely be used for setting powder or bronzer as well. I think it's the perfect density for just about every face product - not too fluffy that it lacks precision, but not too thick that it applies product heavily. It's just great.

Eye shadow - If I had to pick a single eyeshadow it would be "Naked" from the Urban Decay Naked palette. I sometimes just swipe this all over my lids and it gives them just the right amount of depth for a simple every day look. I even used it to fill in my brows (before I got my hands on the Anastasia brow pencil). It's a really good, multi-purpose shade.

Eyeliner - My favorite eyeliner remains, to this day, the Lancome Artliner. I've always preferred liquid liner over pencil or gel, because I feel like it gives me a precise line most efficiently. The black one is really good, but they also do an eggplant shade that's a nice alternative to your standard black eyeliner. It is pricey, and the Maybelline Stiletto liquid liner is a close match to it, but the Artliner lasts much longer than the Maybelline one.

Lip gloss - I'm not much of a lipgloss gal because I find them a bit fussy, but one that I actually like very much is the Buxom lip gloss in "Dolly". It's a great nude shade for my skintone, and it has that tingly sensation (not for everyone, but I like it). If they made a lipstick version of it, I'd be all over that because I love the color.

Lipstick - I don't wear lipstick very often and I change it up too much to actually have a favorite, but if you made me pick I would go ahead and say MAC Plumful. It's super versatile; you can sheer it out or build it up.

I hope you enjoyed this tag! If you do it yourself, please leave me a comment below as I would love to read your answers.

7 Deadly Sins TAG

Hey everyone! I haven't done a tag in a while and I don't have any other posts planned so I thought I'd give this one a go. I found it on Jess' blog Coffee and Cosmetics, and I know it's a popular one but in case you haven't done it yet, feel free to grab it :)

1. Greed: What is your most inexpensive beauty product? What is your most expensive beauty product?

My most inexpensive beauty product is anything that I bought from Elf. I have their studio brush line and one of their gel liners, and both are great value for money. Their products are only a couple bucks and really do the job. They're nothing fancy but if you'd like to save some money on basics, Elf is a good option! Their online website is particularly easy to navigate, and shipping doesn't cost an arm & a leg.

My most expensive beauty product (that I bought with my own money, i.e. not gifted) has to be my Vice 2 palette. I don't tend to splurge on single items - I'd rather save up some money and buy an array of things. Although the Urban Decay palettes are quite expensive, I think they are SO worth it. The quality, originality, and durability are incomparable.

2. Wrath: What beauty product do you have a love/hate relationship with? What product has been the hardest to get?

At the moment I'm having a love/hate relationship with the Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation. It's an illuminating, anti-aging foundation, which is lovely in theory, but the problem is that it's chock-full of shimmer. I still can't decide if that's an issue for me or not! It was fine in the summer with a nice tan, but it seems silly to have a glowy face in the winter. Looks like I'll have to move on from it during the time being.

Living in Canada, I'm pretty lucky when it comes to beauty products being available for me. We have Sephora and Mac, and Bioderma is sold at my nearest drug store. I think the only products that posed some difficulty for me were my Real Techniques brushes. It took forever and a half for them to become available at Walmart here, and I could never seem to find them on trips to the States. Of course, UK brands are difficult to get.

3. Gluttony: What are your most delicious beauty products?

Well since I don't tend to eat my beauty products this is a bit of an odd question... However, some products smell so good they could almost be edible. Two of my favorite-smelling lip glosses are from Buxom and NYX. I'm definitely a sucker for sweet scents as opposed to more perfume-y scents like Chanel.

4. Sloth: What beauty product do you neglect due to laziness?

I definitely neglect using concealer. I feel like foundation does the bulk of the work when it comes to covering up, and I don't feel like my under-eye circles are that noticeable. I also neglect powdering sometimes - and more often than not I regret it at some point throughout the day! Oops.

5. Pride: What beauty product gives you the most self-confidence?

The beauty product that gives me the most self-confidence is eyeshadow. On days that I actually put the effort into applying it, I feel instantly rejuvenated haha. Knowing that I put in the extra work in making my "look" complete makes all the difference. I'm no expert when it comes to applying eyeshadow but when it turns out looking great, I feel super accomplished haha.

6. Lust: What attributes do you find most attractive in the opposite sex?

I find this question a little irrelevant so I'm going to replace it with "Which product/brand do you find has the most physically attractive packaging?" 

Even though I'm still gushing over the packaging of my new Vice 2 palette, my answer for this question is very easy: NARS. The sleek packaging and the rubber-y texture gets me every time! I even love the extra kerning on the letters and the curved edges. I contemplate buying NARS products if only for the packaging... To have a big NARS palette one day is my dream - totally wish I'd gotten my hands on Danmari when I had the chance!

7. Envy: What product would you most like to receive as a gift?

At the moment I am dying for a YSL lipstick. I can never justify the price in-store but if someone loved me enough to buy me one as a gift... I would be so so so happy! The packaging and quality looks incredible. I would definitely buy a red color making it feel even fancier :)

I tag: Hannah from Hips Like Cinderella

Beauty Would-You-Rather

Hey everyone! Quite a while ago I saw this tag on Bravenezz blog and I thought it would be fun! I wasn't actually tagged but what do you know, I'm doing it anyway. Rebel I am. If you'd like to do it yourself, please go ahead and link back to me so I can have a read :)

1. Would you rather lose all of your mascaras, eyeliners, lipsticks, and lip glosses or lose all of your palettes and eyeshadows?

I would definitely rather lose my palettes and eyeshadows, considering I hardly ever wear eyeshadow unless it's a special occasion! I'm much more of a mascara and lip person to be honest. PLUS, a lid full of eyeshadow isn't really complete without mascara'd lashes, am I right?

2. Would you rather chop off all your hair or never be able to cut it again?

I would chop it all off! Why not? It would get really gross and thin and brittle if I could never cut it again!

3. Would you rather have a coral cheek or a pink cheek?

I don't really have a preference here, but if I had to choose I would say pink. There are so many variations of pink blush that it could work year-round, but I feel like coral is very summer-specific.

4. If you had £1000 to spend, would you rather buy clothes or makeup?

At this exact moment in my life I would probably spend it on clothes just because I'm kind of lacking at the mo. I really, really need a new pair of shorts, a new bra, etc - as you can see I'm lacking essentials hahah. Maybe I would spend it on makeup at a different date.

5. Would you rather apply lipstick as eyeliner, or eyeliner as lipstick?

Well that's a creative question. I think I would apply lipstick as eyeliner because I could probably rock a bright-colored wing or something - not so much a black-lined lip... *shudder*

6. Would you rather only shop at MAC or Sephora?

Practically, I'm going to say MAC. I hardly shop at Sephora anymore because it's honestly just too expensive. MAC is reasonably priced, and they have the best quality anyway! (PS - not saying I wouldn't really miss Sephora though, it's my favorite "window shopping" location)

7. Would you rather only use one eyeshadow color or one lip color for the rest of your life?

I'll say one eyeshadow color! You can't really go wrong with a neutral eye, and I tend to get sick of lip colours easily so having to wear one for the rest of my life wouldn't go too well.

8. Would you rather wear winter clothes in summer or summer clothes in winter?

This is such a difficult question because where I live, winters are full-on WINTERS and summers are so humid and sticky and gross that you'd go naked if you could. I guess I would rather spend summer in winter clothes, because considering I don't have a job and I stay home anyway, I could crank up the AC and chillax in sweatpants. I'd miss the outdoors but hey, I'm being practical here.

9. Would you rather dark nails or bright nails all year round?

This is tough because I have my phases. I feel like bright nails would be a better pick because there are so many more options, whereas dark nail polishes all kind of have the same effect anyway.

10. Would you rather give up your favorite lip product or your favorite eye product?

Lip product. Mascara is essential.

11. Would you rather only be able to wear your hair in a ponytail or a messy bun?

Messy bun! I never do ponytails.

12. Would you rather never being able to paint your nails again or never use lip-gloss?

NEVER USE LIPGLOSS! I don't wear lipgloss anyway soooo.... Hahaha.

13. Would you rather shave your eyebrows and have none at all? Or sharpie them in everyday?

Meh, not a fan of this question because some people have no eyebrows due to sickness, so I guess I wouldn't wish that upon myself. I could Sharpie them in every day.

14. Would you rather live without makeup or nail polish?

...... This one's haaardddd. I guess I'd have to say... nail polish. Although nail polish is like my #1 beauty love, I feel like makeup is not really something I could do without. It's just an important confidence-booster, and I couldn't imagine not wearing makeup in formal situations!

And here's a picture of some sparkly goodness because this post was feeling really empty. Woohoo!

(This is not my photo - it's going around on Tumblr. Couldn't find the source but if it's yours I would be happy to link back to you!)

I TAG:
- Stacey
- Jessica
- Dawn
- Fiona
...and whoever else would like to do this tag :)

Because of YouTube Tag

Hey everyone! I picked up this tag off of icallitambrosia and thought it would be fun to do, considering I've been superrrr obsessed with YouTube lately. I'm not on YouTube myself (although I might be one day - who knows!), so some of the questions don't apply. Also, I have a running list of all the channels I'm subscribed to (CLICK HERE) in case you're interested.

Products I've purchased off of a beauty guru's recommendation:

Urban Decay Naked palette (icallitambrosia), Rimmel Stay Matte powder (Tanya Burr), NARS Laguna bronzer (pretty much everyone lolol), NYC Smooth Skin Bronzer in Sunny (Amarixe), Korres lip butter in Wild Rose (essiebutton), OPI Vant To Bite My Neck (missjenfabulous)

YouTube gurus you would like to meet:

To be honest, most of the YouTubers I would like to meet aren't beauty gurus... However, I would like to meet Tanya and her fiance Jim because they both seem really sweet and lovely. I'd also like to meet essiebutton because she's hilarious and Canadian and I feel like we'd have lots in common!

Three techniques you learned:

1) The importance of blending eyeshadow! I used to shy away from eyeshadow in its entirety because I never achieved a seamless look. NikkieTutorials, in particular, showed me how eye makeup can immediately look 1000% better if you just blend, blend, blend.

2) I remember I first learned how to do winged liner from Michelle Phan. She also taught me the best way to clean makeup brushes. Come to think of it, all of my basic knowledge of makeup/beauty comes from Michelle!

3) I learned from Lisa Eldridge that the best way to match a foundation is to make sure the color is consistent when you blend it in from the side of your cheek onto the beginning of your neck.

Two friends that I have made through YouTube:

I haven't made friends through YouTube because, as I said, I'm not actually on YouTube lol!

One video that has been the most helpful:

I can't pinpoint one specific video, but I feel like some gurus are definitely more helpful than others. In terms of techniques, I would direct you to NikkieTutorials who is so great at what she does at such a young age, Michelle Phan (her older videos that weren't overly sponsored), and Lisa Eldridge who is a celebrity makeup artist. Additionally, the pixiwoo sisters do some really great, easy-to-follow tutorials! In terms of product recommendation, I feel like Allison from Amarixe always offers really thoughtful reviews and has great taste in general.

That concludes the tag! Please feel free to fill it out for yourself and link back to me so that I can read it too!  :)

Confessions of a Blogger TAG

Hey everyone! A while ago, Meghan from Mainly Meghan tagged me to do this post! I had it sitting in my drafts for so long that I figured it was finally time to bring it to life. Big thanks to Meghan for tagging me! Do go check out her blog :)

Have you had any past online presence before? (Other blog, YouTube, etc)
Yup! I had one other blog before. I can't remember what it's called and I think I deleted it, but I used to use it as a diary type thing where I'd recap my day and stuff. I think I posted a total of maybe four times? LOL. Kind of a fail. But I've had Tumblr and Twitter for a very, very long time. I'm no internet newb ;)

Why did you start a blog?
Specifically - because I was procrastinating on some homework. Actually - because I knew I wanted to get into the online beauty world, and I felt like YouTube was too big a leap (still is).

When did you become so serious about starting a blog?
Well, I started mine in February of last year, but I only started blogging "seriously" in the summer. I mean, I still don't see it as a very serious thing. I don't give myself any restrictions and blogging is, in the end, just a hobby. My only goal is to post at least 10 times per month, which is pretty challenging especially because I'm in school, but it's reasonable considering my will to keep this blog alive and running.

What was your first post?
I guess you can say I kind of eased into blogging about beauty. My first post was this gem of an introduction, and my three subsequent posts had nothing to do with beauty. My first beauty post was my "most worn tag: summer 2012" - back when I included 2000 photos in one entry hahaha.

This is the first picture I ever posted on this blog. Sooo pretty right? :P

What has been your biggest challenge while blogging?
Coming up with content is tough sometimes but I always manage to think of something. I think I get into this rut of like, "is this post going to be popular? Are people going to want to read this?" and sometimes I forget to blog about what I like aside from beauty. I used to do Tumblr recaps (i.e. what I've been reblogging on Tumblr), and movie reviews. I plan on doing more soon.

Where do you see your blog in one year?
Hopefully at 1000 followers! I do work really hard on this page and it would be great to see so many people enjoying it!

What is the most rewarding thing about blogging?
I think it's nice to have my friends come to me and say "hey I read your blog! It's great!" It's a huge confirmation for me because I know at least someone is appreciating my posts - and I can get instant feedback.

What is the most discouraging thing about blogging?
I'm going to be honest. I feel like most of the people that read my blog and comment are only looking to advertise their page. I don't get any real feedback. I rarely get comments that show an engagement with the post. It can be a little discouraging.

But then I realize we're all in the same boat; our goals are to reach x amount of followers and you need to put yourself out there somehow. It serves as a lesson to me as well: I try to comment on as many other blogs as possible to show that I a) care and support my fellow #bbloggers and b) actually read the post! However I do leave my URL at the bottom because it's true - I gotta do what I gotta do lol!

What's your lasting inspiration or motivation?
I think it's just the thought of seeing how much my blog will have evolved in one, two, three years. I love going through a popular blog's archives and seeing how basic and trivial their early posts were in comparison to where they are now. My blog is essentially beauty-related, but I put a lot of "Erica" into it. So it's going to be cool to see how it turns out.

I'll go ahead and tag a few people... Sophia, Jessica, Laura, Sophia, Beth, Laura, Elysa, Annabelle. Of course (as always), feel free to complete the tag yourself! If you got this far it would be a shame not to leave a comment! ;)

A-Z of Erica

Becca did this tag originally and I totally forgot I had it saved in my drafts. I didn't have another post planned for today so I thought I'd go ahead and finally publish it! Hope you find it at least mildly entertaining haha :)

Age? 19 years old, however I am turning 20 in February!

Bed Size? Queen

Chore You Hate? Washing dishes. I get nauseous from it sometimes...

Dream Room? Cream walls, fairy lights, picture frames, vintage tins. I'm a five year old girl, basically. Or I'm Zoella.



Education? I'm currently in my first year of university studying Communications. I also have two years of college Liberal Arts under my belt.

Favourite Colour? Purple or navy blue, but not both of those together.

Greatest Achievement? I honestly don't know. This is the worst question to ask because on one hand I don't want to brag, and on the other hand I don't think I've accomplished anything particularly spectacular. Hmm.

Height? 5'3"

Instruments I Play? None. I've never been musically inclined although I have attempted piano, guitar, and trombone.

Job Title? Birthday party animator. Sounds awful, I know.

Kids? Nope.

Live? Montreal, Canada

Motivations? Hmm, I guess becoming "successful" in my current field of study. But I'd also love to work for a cosmetics company (not as a makeup artist or anything, but in PR).

Nicknames? None.

Overnight Hospital Stays? When I was little I was hospitalized because of a weird stomach thing. But my overnight hospital stays since then mostly include spending hours upon hours in the ER waiting room because free healthcare isn't all it's cracked up to be (ahem).

Pet Peeves? I'm pretty sensitive and introverted so I don't like people who talk/eat/are generally loud and "get-in-your-face".

Quote: I don't have a favorite quote.

Right or Left Handed? Right

Shops I Love? Sephora, Bath & Body Works, MAC

Time I Wake Up? Depends on the day, but I can usually sleep in until 11:30am.

Ultimate Food? Seafood. Omg

Vacations? USA (including NYC, Boston, Florida, California, etc), Europe (including Italy, France, Spain, Monaco), Cuba

What Makes You Run Late? Putting makeup on.

X-Rays I've Had? Teeth, at the dentist. And my hand for when I broke two of my fingers. And my head/face (long story).

Yummy Food I Make? I make a good grilled cheese.

Zoo Animals? ALL ZOO ANIMALS! Especially elephants and giraffes.

Monday Questionnaire: December 17th, 2012

I know I already blogged today, but I figured I'd throw in a little Monday questionnaire since I haven't done one in a while. I stole this from Amarixe whose blog is amazing, so you should definitely have a look at it.

Here's a photo from my friend Alina's Christmas party. (I'm second to the left)

1.) Mood:

Relaxed. I finished my finals so I am no longer stressing out about school, and now I can focus all my energy into Christmas! Woooo!

2.) In what order do you apply your makeup?

Generally I do setting spray, foundation, powders, eyes, lips, then setting spray again, but if my eye makeup requires a lot of shadow I'll do eyes first so that the fallout doesn't mess up my foundation.

3.) What is one thing that made you smile today?

My dog (who is guaranteed to make me smile every day).

4.) Current Nail Polish:

OPI's Yoga-ta Get This Blue! (NOTD coming soon)

5.) Have you ever had a kiss under the mistletoe?

Nope!!!

6.) Current Outfit:

My pajamas because I deserve a lazy day after surviving exams & this weekend, LOL.

7.) Moment of truth: do you usually drive the speed limit?

Well I don't have my full license yet, so I have to drive accompanied by an licensed driver, but I generally stay within the speed limit. I kinda take driving very seriously, especially in school zones. 

8.) If you could spend the holidays anywhere in the whole world, where would it be?

Yeah, this definitely only applies if the whole family's involved, but honestly I'm not too fussy about location. As long as there's snow. Preferably in Italy maybe, since we're Italian and I'm sure my mom would love that.

9.) Do you know sign language?

Not at all, though I would be willing to learn :)

10.) Weekly Goals:

Pick up a few more gifts for my mom, brother and goddaughter, and get into the Christmas spirit! How great and stress-free is this week lol!?

Photo from Tumblr, via http://www.bohovanity.com/

Please leave a link to your monday questionnaire below, and have a great week everyone!

Beauty Blogger TAG!

Hey everyone! So Jen from Vibrant Beauty Blog tagged me to do the Beauty Blogger tag and it looked like fun so I thought I'd give it a go! Enjoy :)

Why did you start blogging and how long have you been blogging for?

I only started blogging this summer (well, I created my blog in February but only started using it recently), and I started because I wanted to focus my energy on something remotely productive. Also, I just started university with a major in Communications, so the whole idea of blogging is right up my alley!

Whose blog did you fall in love with first?

To be honest, I fell in love with vlogs before blogs. I really want to get into vlogging someday, but I thought a less scary place to begin would be in the blogging world. Only after researching my favorite YouTubers did I find some of my current favorites blogs: Amarixe, Essie Button, Sprinkle of Glitter, and more. 

Most important part about doing a blog post?

I think some sort of visual aspect is really important. Not even photos, necessarily, but just organizing your writing in a way that adds some visual excitement (larger titles, bolding, italicizing creatively, etc). I guess it goes without saying that honesty important, but seriously, what fun is blogging if you're going to give 100% positive reviews all the time? 
 

What kind of camera do you use?

I use a Fujifilm camera that I absolutely despise. I got it as a gift about 4-5 years ago (I'm very grateful, don't get me wrong), but as I'm becoming more educated about photography and camera quality, I'm realizing how crappy it is! I'm waiting on hearing back from a scholarship I applied for and if I get it, hopefully I can invest in a proper camera :)

I got these photos at http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/default.asp?newsID=3514&review=fuji+finepix+s1000 (but I edited the graphic myself)

What was the first blogosphere hyped about product you bought and was it worth the hype?

I'm going to cheat a little on this because technically I didn't pay for this one myself (I got it for my 19th birthday), but this definitely has to be the Urban Decay Naked Palette. I wanted this originally because Rachel from 87daysbefore talked about it alllll the time, and then I started noticing other bloggers/vloggers using it as well. Hands down, this is my all-time favorite makeup item and I wholeheartedly think it's worth the hype. Even though there are some dupes for this palette floating around, the texture and amazingness of Urban Decay eyeshadows can never really be replicated.

What are your favourite five things about blogging and being a beauty blogger?

1) I'm forced to exercise my writing skills. I think this is really important, and honestly, I feel bad for people who don't write regularly (even if it's something as simple as being a frequent tweeter) because being able to communicate effectively though the written word is something I really value. (Am I a Comms student or what?)

2) I have a lot of opinions, especially on makeup-y things, so it's nice to be able to catalog it all. Also, it's reassuring that I can express myself in a way that doesn't need to be censored at all, if that makes sense.

3) I think this is a really rewarding process, in the sense that I love producing and creating a blog post and having readers comment on it. I think it's one of the most gratifying things in the world sometimes.

4) Although I haven't made close friends in the beauty blogging community quite yet, I like seeing the connections made amongst bloggers and the comradery that goes on in this little online world.

5) Just having a hobby to look forward to whenever I'm bored :)

What have you learned from being a beauty blogger?

I already knew I was a perfectionist but the whole blogging thing definitely confirms it... I seriously re-read all my blog posts like 25 times before posting. Also, I've gained an appreciation for people who are good at photography. I've realized how much work goes into taking a nice photograph, so kudos to anyone who's really good at it!

Have you changed anything since being a beauty blogger?

Hmm, the only thing I can think of is that I take way better care of my nails. Deep, I know ;)

What advice would you give to a beauty blogger just starting out?

If you're writing something informative, take your time to make your posts the best they can be! I sometimes write up a couple drafts of my posts before publishing them, and I think it shows in the final result. Obviously, tags are a different story, but when I'm writing a review I try to be as detailed and precise as possible. And of course, if you want people to comment on your posts, do make an effort to explore other blogs and comment on theirs as well :)

Your Favorite Eyeshadow Palette?

My Urban Decay Naked palette, duh :D

The Best Beauty Deal?

I have been using my Rimmel Stay Matte powder literally every day since I got it. It's seriously amazing, and only like $3. Incredible.

Makeup Regrets?

Hmm, I don't really have any makeup regrets because I never get too crazy/experimental. I do have products that I regret buying, though (check out this post). I've actually been meaning to do a follow-up to that post. Would you guys be interested in reading that? Let me know in the comments!

Name your top five Beauty brands!

I guess unlike other beauty bloggers I don't really have a staple makeup brand. I like to dabble in different brands (high and low-end) so I only own select products from each of the ones I will name, but I'll try my best!

Korres I guess this is a slightly random brand to begin with, but after purchasing their lip butter, I became obsessed with this brand. I don't actually own any other products by them (lol), but I've researched their company and their whole philosophy/esthetic is really unique and refreshing. My only gripe is that their products are so costly (which is incidentally why I own so few of them) :(

L'Oreal This is my favorite drugstore makeup brand, for sure. I'm hardly ever disappointed by L'Oreal products I purchase, most notably their nail polish and Infallible eyeshadows. Also, they own Maybelline and YSL (and now Urban Decay!!) and other cool brands so they're quite top-notch in my opinion

Benefit I own quite a handful of Benefit products, so I feel like I'm qualified to name this brand as one of my favorites. Their Lemon Aid was one of the first products I ever bought from Sephora (and I got it at the Sephora in Madrid--oohhh fancy), and I find myself reaching for it every so often, despite my much newer eyeshadow primers that could potentially replace it.

My Benefit collection

NARS God, whenever I'm at Sephora, the NARS counter just calls my name. Sadly the only product of theirs that I own is the Laguna bronzer (LOVE IT), but their stuff just speaks to me. I'm obsessed with the packaging and I really want to just try out their whole collection. 

MAC I wanted to avoid saying MAC because, again, I don't own too much MAC, but I feel incredibly savvy about their cosmetics because I browse their website like 24/7 and I do my fair share of blog reading. I own a couple brushes, eyeshadows and blushes, and I must say they are very high quality products. I have yet to be disappointed by MAC.

Recommend your top five favourite beauty products! 

• Urban Decay Naked Palette: For the reasons explained above. You don't need anything else. Seriously.
• Rimmel Stay Matte Powder: See above question. Really worth the money, even though it's like $3.
• Lancome Artliner: This is kind of a staple in my collection. I haven't yet mastered the art of gel liner, so liquid liner is my go-to (especially on nights out or when I'm going for a more dramatic look). You get a lot of precision with this liner and the application is very smooth.
• NARS Laguna Bronzer: Yep. I said it. And many have before me, I know. It's just your quintessential bronzer, in my opinion. Not sure if it would work for darker skintones (for which I would recommend maybe NARS Casino), but yeah, lovely product.
• Blistex Lip Medex: You can't really go wrong with some good old lip balm, can you? I love putting this on underneath lipstick, or even keeping it in my winter coat pocket because it's very hydrating when it's cold out. It does have a medicinal scent and slight stinging sensation, so if that might bother you I'd avoid this, but I personally don't mind it (in fact I quite like it). I've gone through multiple tubs of this.

And that concludes my beauty blogger tag! Again, a big thanks to Jen for tagging me! Please feel free to do this tag and link back to me (I would love to read your responses). Also, some specific people that I tag:

- Ellie from Ellalogy (who is having an awesome giveaway right now!!)

- Marie from MCMiki93

- Janine from The Amazing World of J

- Paige from PaigeyPumpkin

- Rosie from Gorgeously Glowing

- Daniella from All the good names were taken?

- Tasha from A-Nice Cuppa Tea

- Sher from Fashernably Late

- Millie from Lola In The Lounge

- YOU!

The Think Pink TAG!

I was tagged by the lovely Ellie from Ellalogy to participate in this "Think Pink" tag. The purpose of the tag is to raise awareness about breast cancer, especially considering October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

THE TAG:

1) Pick out your favorite pink food, makeup, fashion, and random item.

2) Spread the message about breast cancer to a female friend/family in your life - the awareness, the symptoms, the checks, the healthy foods that helps prevent the disease... anything or everything! (I found this website that is a good place to start. Links to many helpful reads and resources)

3) Write a blog post about 1 & 2, linking back to this post 

4) Tag 3 of your blogger girlfriends to do the same

I do not directly know anyone affected by breast cancer, but I've been involved in breast cancer awareness from an early age. Each year my all-girls high school would team up with other all-girls schools in the area for Girls For the Cure, a walk to raise awareness about the disease and gather donations for breast cancer research. While I'm not an expert on the topic, I will mention that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime (source). When I started doing Girls For the Cure at 13 years old (6 years ago), the statistic was 1 in 3, so there have been advancements in breast cancer research, which is amazing, but the disease is still prevalent.

I kinda cheated and picked two wishlist items for my random and makeup picks, but here goes:

• Random: This Kitchen Aid mixer. I've been super into cooking lately and I would really like to invest in a proper mixer. If you go to this website you can take a quiz to find out which color mixer matches your personality. I got Almond Cream, but I think this pink one is way cuter!
• Fashion: The only pink fashion item I own is this pink beanie from Forever 21 that I bought last year. I'm so upset because I can't find it anywhere! This is the only picture I have of me wearing it. LOL.
• Food: Cotton candy, of course! Not much to say here!
• Makeup: I've been lusting after this Chanel lipstick in the color "Boy" for a long time now, especially since Fleur de Force has recommended it.

I'm a little late in doing the tag because I was having a bit of trouble thinking of my responses, and unfortunately we're nearing the end of the month BUT I tag any blogger who reads this because it's for a worthwhile cause, and it's fun :)

I ❤ FALL TAG (via MissJenFabulous)

Hey everyone! I haven't done a tag in quite a while (at least that's what it feels like), so I thought it might be nice to do a quick one for today because I feel like being talkative! I picked this up from MissJenFabulous on YouTube (if you aren't subscribed to her then you should be!). I will tag a few specific bloggers but everyone is welcome to join in on this tag :)

Favorite Fall lip product?

I have an entire blog post on this that I wrote up a couple days ago (click HERE). But apart from those, I love using my LUSH lip scrub (bubblegum flavor) because my lips tend to get flakey when it's cold.

Favorite Fall Nail Polish?

This is tough because I like changing up my nail polish quite a bit and never really stick to one specific polish, but I really like wearing greys and taupes when it starts to get cold because I feel like those colors are more weather-appropriate and I don't get to bring them out in the warmer months! BUT I've wanting Essie's Bahama Mama because everyone talks about it so much!

Favorite Starbucks Fall Drink?

Pumpkin Spice Latte, of course! I look forward to having this every fall. But apparently there's a pumpkin spice latte shortage going on right now... Not cool...

Favorite Fall Candle?

I just finished a mini-sized Pumpkin Caramel Latte from B&BW so I'll have to go pick up the 3-wick one soon.

Favorite Fall Scarf or accessory

Hmm, no specific item comes to mind, but I like wearing pashminas during this time of year. I have a ton of different colors.

Haunted house, haunted hay ride, or haunted corn maze?

I've never been on a haunted hay ride or in a haunted corn maze, but I hate haunted houses! I don't like being scared lol!

Favorite Halloween movie?

I like the Disney Halloween movies, like Halloweentown High, Twitches, and Phantom of the Megaplex. Surprisingly, I don't think I've ever seen Hocus Pocus (!?). But yeah, I'm such a child haha, I can't wait until they start airing these. 

Favorite candy to eat on Halloween?

Laffy Taffy! I feel like this a Halloween exclusive, for some reason. I never come across them throughout the rest of the year. Oh and I love Rockets too!

What are you dressing up as for Halloween?!

Ehhh, I'm not sure! I don't know if I'm doing anything for Halloween yet (to be honest, I like everything that comes with Halloween, but I hate the task of dressing up!). 

What is your Favorite thing about Fall?

My favorite thing about fall is just the general coziness of the season. And all the TV shows that start up again. And Pumpkin Spice Lattes.

I tag: Face This City, Southern Glamourista, Pandora's Basket, Sophie Rose Hearts, and Vibrant Beauty Blog

Beauty VS. Brains TAG

Katie over at KatieGolightlyX did this tag and I had a lot of fun reading it and getting to know her! I'm aware that this is an incredibly wordy post, but hopefully it doesn't bore you too much :)

1. What is your favorite book?
My favorite book of all-time is called "An Abundance of Katherines" by the wonderfully talented John Green. This is where my blog name came from ;) It's a really clever, witty story about a kid who only dates girls named Katherine. It sounds like a pretty insignificant plotline, but John's writing is so clever and smart and flawless. I used to want to be a writer and he was definitely my biggest inspiration, so I would seriously recommend any book by him (I've read all of them and so have my friends because I told them too lol!).

2. What is your favorite quote?
I'm sure there more insightful quotes out there, but one that has been extra meaningful for me is "It'll all be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end." I've told myself this through many a painful time, whether it be during emotional hardship or even like, enduring the pain of getting my eyebrows done. It's pretty effective.

3. Do you prefer English or Math?
English! Like I mentioned previously, I wanted to be a writer so English class was definitely a bigger influence in my life. I can't say I hate math, because I liked the challenge of it (and finally mastering something in math might be the best feeling in the world), but I have always excelled more at English, which is naturally why I enjoy it more.

4. Do you prefer Science or Art?
Personally and in terms of my own practice and future career, art. But, that's not to say I condemn science or anything. I love the idea that art and science can coexist in our world. As for my career though, I think art really pushes the limits of my intellect, in that my ideas and creative energy are always changing, and I love seeing a vision of mine come to be. I studied science up until 10th grade and while I got good grades, nothing pushed my limits like art and English did.

5. Name five albums or artists that have changed your life.
This is really tough for me because music is not something I've been consistently passionate about. Right now my interests lie in blogging and beauty rather than discovering new artists, for example. But let me throw a few names out there: John Mayer, Taylor Swift, The Who, Aerosmith and lastly, the Jonas Brothers. These boys were my longest-lasting musical obsession and I can't even explain why right now, but they took up every moment of my life aged 14-17. I don't listen to their music anymore, but their tastes are what got me listening to the likes of John Mayer, Elvis Costello, etc. And now that I think of it, I've seen every single one of these bands/artists in person! Let me insert a few photos:

(I didn't take photos at Aerosmith because I was way too far from the stage, and my photos of the Who are on my cell and the quality sucks lol!)

6. What were your favorite and least favorite subjects in school?
Looking back on my college experience (I was in a Liberal Arts program), my favorite course was Eastern Religions. The reason for this is probably because my professor was the most insightful, level-headed, eloquent lady I have ever met. She really opened my eyes, and I know one day I will open up my Eastern Religions notes (which I copied down word-for-word), and regain my appreciation for this class. My least-favorite class had to be Just & Unjust Wars. It was a class filled with politics and overly-opinionated students trying to outsmart each other... :)

7. Who is your favorite celebrity with a brain?
Meh, I don't really like this question because celebrities aren't just glorified puppets, they do have working brains like the rest of us. But I think I'll go with Emma Stone for this one. I'm not sure if she's book-smart or anything, but I think she picks out brilliant roles for herself and from what I've seen, she's very witty. I wish I had a better answer for this!

8. What is your nerdy little secret?
I enjoy watching Vi Hart's videos on YouTube every once in a while.

9. What beauty gurus do you admire for more than their love of beauty/fashion?
This one goes to Louise Sprinkle of Glitter, without a doubt. I just think she is a very lovely person, and I agree with most of her non-beauty related opinions. I think she's very wise, well-spoken, and I always feel a little enriched after watching one of her more chatty videos. Lucky for me, she's just started a channel called Sprinkle of Chatter ;) Check it out! Ohhh, and she also did this tag as a video on her beauty channel so you should also check that out!

10. If you could study anything, anywhere what would it be?
If I could make a viable living off of painting and such kinds of studio art, I would definitely study that either somewhere in Europe, or at NYU.

11. If your blog couldn't focus on beauty/fashion, what would it focus on?
It would probably just be a diary/lifestyle blog of sorts, relaying my life's boring tidbits. Although, I guess it kind of is one already lol! Or actually, I would dedicate a blog solely to movies and television, as I watch a loottt of that.

12. Name something that you're obsessed with but others might find nerdy or strange.
Candles! My friends think I'm obsessive and weird (but then they all love the way my room smells. Ha!). 

13. Name five people (excluding family/friends) that inspire you.

1. My aforementioned religion teacher for the aforementioned reasons (I don't really put her in the friend/family category so I'm counting this hehe)
2. John Green because I think he's a brilliant writer and all-around person
3. Judd Apatow because I think he has the best sense of humor a director has ever had. Most of his films are hits for me (except none with Will Ferrell because I dislike Will Ferrell immensely, but that's not Judd's fault).
4. Can I include fictional characters? Dean Moriarty (On the Road) and Alaska Young (Looking For Alaska)
5. And then I guess I would mention some YouTubers that I love watching (FleurdeForce, MissGlamorazzi, DailyGrace, etc)

14. Who is your intellectual soulmate?
Hmm, I don't think I've found my intellectual soulmate yet. I'd like to think my regular, spend-the-rest-of-my-life-with soulmate will be my intellectual soulmate as well. So, no one until then! 

Hope you guys enjoyed reading this! It's been in my drafts for long enough lol! If you did enjoy it, drop a comment saying so, and definitely do the tag for yourself and link back because I would love to read it :)