Sick Day

Well...I don't have any fun pictures from this past weekend because Aaron and I were out sick the entire time (and then some). Boooo - so much for the two Halloween parties we were invited to.

He got sick earlier in the week, and it was inevitable that I would soon catch it (sinus infection - ew) which I did, by Wednesday evening. I ended up going to work Thursday, but then was basically bed-ridden Friday through Sunday. We watched a lot of tv (including both movies pictured above - both hilarious!) and I think I caught up on sleep enough for the rest of the month! ;) Needless to say, I was feeling very well-rested on Monday. 

So, I put together a little collage of what my weekend looked like ;)
...blankets, sleep, candles, pillows, cozy socks, hot chocolate, and lots of tv.

We are both better now, so I'll try and snap some pictures this weekend - super excited, we are headed to Cleveland for the Browns v. Ravens game on Sunday!!

Hope you all had a great illness-free weekend! xx 

Liebster Award

Rules:

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you - Thank you so much to the beautiful Lauren Elizabeth from Petite in Pearls!! I am a new follower and I just love her blog! Style and interior deco inspiration, reciepes, and her ADORABLE pup, Penny Lane :)

2. Answer the 11 questions given by the blogger who nominated you.

3. Nominate 11 bloggers that have less than 200 followers and give them 11 questions to answer.

Questions:

1. What is your favorite season and why?

At the risk of sounding cliche...it is fall. The weather this time of year is my favorite...although I do also love when it starts to warm up in spring. Winter gets last place...I hate being cold. I also hate being hot.

2. Flats or heels?

Heels. No question. Also, I think I look silly in flats...probably because my legs are so short ;)

3. What is your favorite kind of ice cream?

There is a small chain here in Columbus called Graeter's and I am torn between their Cinnamon and their Black Raspberry Chip (raspberry with dark chocolate chunks). Very diet friendly ;)

4. If you drink, what is your favorite cocktail?

Vodka and cranberry.

5. What is your favorite place you have traveled?

This one is hard! My mom is from Scotland and we used to visit there all the time as kids. I would move there in a heart beat if I could... so I would probably pick that as my favorite.  But one of the best vacations I have ever had was to the Caribbean (Cozumel, Jamacia, Bahamas, etc).

Our favorite castle to visit in Scotland - Balgonie 

Little sis and I in Edinburgh circa 1995 - note the stylish kicks ;)

6. What is your favorite item of clothing you own?

This one is hard too!! If we are talking sentimental - it would be my bf's big sweatshirt that I cuddle up in at night. If we are talking "worn the most" it would have to be either my American Eagle jean jacket or American Apparel off-the-shoulder tees.

7. What is your favorite holiday?

Well, it used to be Christmas...and don't get me wrong, I still love it - spending time with family, the food, the decorations...but now that I'm a "grown-up" it also costs tons of money and takes so much planning. I have always loved Halloween, so that is up there as one of my favorites.

8. If you could go see any concert  in the world (the artist can be alive or dead) who would it be?

Oh man, I can't just pick one....The Police (I LOVE Sting ;) , Coldplay , and IZ - my favorite song of all time is his rendition of "Over the Rainbow".

9. What is one thing you have to do every day to stay sane?

Honestly, just getting an hour or so to sit down at night and relax with Aaron and Deedee. I need that quiet/snuggle time to just unwind and reboot at the end of the day.

10. Any exciting plans for Halloween? 

We went to the Mansfield Reformatory (a haunted prison) with our friends this past weekend! I posted a bit about it here. I think that's about all we have planned this year...I'd love to go to a great costume party one year though!

Deedee's Costume - a Trex HAHA!

11.  Favorite song at the moment?

John Legend's "Made to Love".

11 Blogger Nominees (Nominees are supposed to have under 200 followers - I looked at blogposts and Bloglovin numbers - sorry if I made a mistake and you have already been nominated!) 

• Laura from Happily Ever Parker
• Ally from Life as I Know It
• Ivy from Style Life Lovely
• Jaclyn from Love and Bellinis
• Cameron from The Thread Engine
• Katie from A Lil Bit Fancy
• Laura from Styled by Laura
• Lita from She Writes Her Own Story
• Lynlee from Pretty Little Lady
• Jessica from Birdie to Be
• Ashley from Sincerely Miss Ash
• Check out all these fabulous ladies and their blogs!! 

11 Questions for Nominees

1. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?

2. What are your favorite beauty products (one drugstore, one high-end)?

3. Who is your celebrity crush?

4. When/Why did you start blogging?

5. Favorite TV show at the moment?

6. What is one luxury item you would treat yourself to if you could pick anything?

7. Do you like to cook or bake? And if so, what is your favorite/signature dish?

8. What is your favorite place to shop?

9. What are your hobbies (other than blogging ;)?

10. What is one of your guilty pleasures?

11. One things that people would be surprised to know about you.

Weekend Snapshots

Hello ladies! Thought I'd share a few snap shots from the weekend - it was a fun one, but went way too fast! (As always)

Friday I worked from home, which meant getting to spend the whole day with this little babe ;)

Although, she spent the day sleeping, which is nothing new.

Aaron and I went out for a few hours to help friends hang a new tv. It ended up taking a bit longer than expected and this it what we came home to! Honestly, all I could do was laugh because as we came in the door, it was like she was trying to steer us away from the living room to hide what she had done... I could never get mad at my little <3 

Late Friday evening we met up with 6 of our best friends and went to the Mansfield Reformatory for a haunted tour. The Mansfield Reformatory is a famous gothic prison about an hour from where we live that is rumored to be extrememly haunted. It is also where the movie "The Shawshank Redemption" was filmed. It is privately owned now and you can tour it (haunted house-style) or spend the night ghost hunting! Eek! I am going to have to work my way up to that one - sounds terrifying.

 The weather was perfect, cool and misty - and there was the lunar eclipse that night! We had a great time, although if we were to go back, I'd like to go and just look around, as I was too busy screaming like a wimp and didn't really get to take in the whole setting. I really hate when actors in haunted houses get too close...I'm all about my personal space haha! Needless to say, I am an obvious target so they just pick on me more.

Aaron did snap one picture while we were inside. This is looking up at 4 stories of cell blocks (and ummm, two glowing orbs) :-/

Saturday was spent recovering and then hanging out at my friend's dance studio. One of my besties from the night before stayed in Columbus and it was so great getting to spend time with her!

We went to the dance studio to get some promo shots done (the studio has a photography studio in the back of it - the owner's husband is a prof. photographer). It was so fun getting glammed up in the dressing/makeup room. Reminded me of all the times spent backstage getting ready for performances when I was younger! 

Sunday was a lazy day! Aaron snapped this while the Brown's game was on. Deedee and I fell asleep under our cozy blanket together since the game was atrocious, and not worth watching ;) Note the horrible display of craft beer bottles crammed on the giant window in the kitchen. I hate it and don't know how many times I've tried to get Aaron to put them away...ugh.

Hope you all had a great weekend! xx

Drugstore Beauty Picks

1. Revlon Colorstay Foundation - About $10

This is hands-down one of the best foundations I have ever used. I was using a $45 high-end one (Kevyn Aucoin), but was so sick of paying that much for a bottle that lasted a couple weeks at best. So I tried this, as I had heard such great things about it online...and I've never gone back. This is the only foundation I have used in the past 4 years, and I have no desire to try any other!

2. L'oreal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black - About $7

Again, another item I started using and haven't strayed from in years. Even when I try another mascara, I still end up putting this on last over top of it ;) I have had so many people ask me what I am wearing because my eyelashes look so thick (in the full sense, not "clumpy"). If you are looking for the ultimate black color...this is for you!

3. Physician's Formula 2-in-1 Eye Booster/Liner - About $10

I found this on Natalie's beauty blog about 6 months ago. (If you are looking for a place to find amazing and thorough reviews on makeup products go check her blog out! It is one of my go-tos!)
This liner works amazingly! I immediately ditched the gel liner when I started using this. The marker lasts forever and the tip is so fine it allows for the perfect, precise line on your lid. Not really noticed anything as far as "boosting" my lashes, but I buy it soley for the liner.

4. Prestige Total Intensity Liner - About $5

I use this for my water line, it is a deep carbon black color and very "charcoal-like", which I love...creates a great smokey eye. Only quam about this is it need reapplied a couple times a day (but honestly, what waterline liner doesn't?)

5. Rimmel Eye Brow Pencil - About $4

Hands down one of the best drugstore buys out there! It is such high-quality for a $4 pencil. I get compliments on my brows all the time and people are shocked when they find out they are actually blonde and I have to color them in darker! (I look like an alien without haha ;) This has a waxy formula that adheres to the brow and DOES NOT MOVE. I have exercised and sweat, been in the rain, rubbed them...it doesn't smudge or come off. But is it a nightmare to remove? Nope! Comes off easily with a little makeup remover or facewash :)

6. E.L.F. Bronzer Blush Duo - $3

Um, awesome price point! But besides that, it is a good product. I only use the bronzer side (I hate the way blush looks on me) and it is the perfect matte color. Not too dark or muddy looking, no shimmer...just right. I've heard good things about some of E.L.F's other products, but this is the only one I've been consistent in repurchasing so far.

7. Rimmel French Tip and Sally Hansen Instadri Polishes - About $4 each

The perfect combo for an at-home french manicure! The Rimmel has a super fine tip, which is necessary for getting a perfect line on your nail tips. The Sally Hansen is a great, thick formula that dries in literally seconds. This is perfect for me because I never have the patience to sit and wait for my nails to dry -- which always, without fail, results in me smudging one (or three). Plus, I don't really like the look of colored polish on my fingernails (small beds, short fingers, just looks odd) so this is really the only nail combo I go for.

8. Aquaphor (Eucerin) Lotion - Any where from $5 - 20

One of the BEST moisturizers. I have super dry skin and this is a thick, super creamy formula, with out any scent or color added. I slather it on my face every night....*NOTE* I would not recommend this if you have oily skin as it is like rubbing the most potent lotion imaginable on your face...obviously wouldn't work for everyone, but amazing on my skin, especially now in the winter.

9. Vaseline - From $1 - 4

This is a necessity for my lips, again especially during the winter. Nothing else seems to do the trick when it comes to keeping them from getting dry and cracked. I also use this around the edges of my nose (which also get dry in winter) and to remove eye makeup at night. It is multi-functional and a huge beauty routine staple for me :)

What are your drugstore favorites?! I love finding out about new products to try! xx

Football Friday Night

Just because I'm going to sit outside and watch a football game, doesn't mean I can't do it in style ;)

- Love this basic gray tee from Old Navy and puffy army-green vest from H&M (on sale!)
- I've been looking to purchase a pair of Sperry's recently and think I like these with a little understated leopard print as opposed to the basic ones...what do you think??
- I will definitely be purchasing this rose gold evil eye bracelet from Etsy - love how simple it is...just gorgeous!

On a very happy note...the Cleveland Browns are now first in the AFC North after last night's win against the Bills! Go Brownies!

I am also super excited that my little sister and mum will be coming to Cbus to visit this weekend! It's Allison's (my sister) first time meeting Deedee :)) Will definitely takes lots of pictures!

Football Friday Night by beauty-blether featuring a taupe nail polish