January 2011 Favorites!

Now that January is over and done with, I thought I'd do a January favorites post! This is the first time I'm embarking on this type of "tag". It's not as great as a video but a blog is the next best thing, right? Enjoy!

I was really surprised at how much I liked Playa del Platinum by Essie! It's such a unique shade of grey/shabby green. It's meant to be a Spring shade but I liked wearing it in January.
Another set of nail polishes I really loved this month were Sinful Colors "Lets Meet" (Yellow) & Essie's Licorice (Black). I was cheering on my Steelers in January & loved showing my "Black & Yellow" support with my nails!
Water was my best friend this month! I completed my first water fast and plan to do more. I've always loved water but this month I really developed an appreciation for H20.

Smith's Rosebud Salve is a product that has been around for over 100 years. I often heard makeup artists loved this product, so I tried it out. It didn't exactly live up to be my absolute favorite thing in the world but the packaging is too cute not to mention! It works- it's just not that impressive for me.


My favorite song of the month was easily "Black & Yellow" by Wiz Khalifa! GO STEELERS!

My favorite YouTube channel was SpiritChannel. It's run by Virginia psychic, Bob Hickman. He's quite an eccentric individual and I love his energy! I spent a lot of time watching YouTube videos this month. I've wanted to launch my own channel for some time. Now that I have a camera, I plan on finally creating my first video!

My Hello Kitty throw blanket was a gift from my Aunt & Uncle for Christmas! I LOVE this blanket. Not only is it cute but it's super warm and cozy! I love lounging around with it while I'm on the computer or watching TV!

My favorite TV shows were The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Jeopardy! and Daria! My sister got me the entire series on DVD and I have been having a blast reliving all the old episodes. I realized I say so many things that stem from that show! So much fun! Here's a link to a series of clips from one of the Fashion Club members (Tiffany). I wish the person who created this would do one for Quinn! I like to think of myself as a cross between Daria and Quinn, haha.

January is notorious for being the worst month for magazines. I didn't really enjoy any of my subscriptions this month :( I didn't read any new books either. I did however start writing my first book! I wanted to complete four chapters but I'm only halfway through the third. My diet sidetracked me toward the end of the month. Hopefully February will be much more productive!

My favorite movie of the month was No Strings Attached starring Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher. I actually saw Black Swan on my birthday (February 1st) but I didn't really love it. I thought No Strings Attached was charming and I look forward to watching it again when it comes out on OnDemand!

My favorite fashion trend/moment from January was Anne Hathaway at The Golden Globe Awards! I absolutely adored her stunning, Armani Prive gown. Angelina Jolie also rocked the long sleeve look at the Globes but opted instead for an emerald number from Versace. My arms aren't in the best shape they have ever been, so I say bring on the long sleeves- especially with all this arctic weather!
I received Gucci Guilty as a Christmas present (I asked for it). I am obsessed! The bottle is so sleek and sexy and the fragrance is perfect for evenings out on the town! It has quickly become one of my top 3 favorite perfumes!
VS (by Victoria's Secret) Perfect Lipstick- Limited Edition, Love Me Wild Lipsticks in Instinct, Pulse & Heated. I'll admit, I'm not thrilled with the colors and I don't even think the forumla is very good but oh, the packaging! I'm a sucker for packaging and I love the look of these lipsticks! I'd recommend Pulse (pictured above) to anyone looking to get just one!

In January, I also rediscovered my love for candles. I hope to purchase a few good ones in February! I love rose, vanilla and lilac scented candles. I also like getting ones that are "in touch with the season" (ie, Christmas, Spring, etc.). I'm not picky about brands as long as it's pretty and works!

Last but certainly not least, my absolute favorite thing this month was my new laptop computer! It's an hp Pavilion dv7. I thought about getting a MAC but I'm so used to PC's. In college, my journalism school operated on MAC's and as pretty as they are, I didn't like using them. I barely put my computer down! Words can't describe how grateful I am to finally have a laptop! This one works fabulously and I couldn't be happier with it!

Well, that's all I can think of for now. I'll be posting a February favorites next month!

Love,
Krista




Now Playing: "Colors", "The Sun" and "People Say" by Portugal. The Man

25th Birthday Haul!

My yummy cake! I blew all the candles out in one puff (well, with the exception of the 1 for good luck). You know you're getting old when you need 2 boxes of candles!
Yesterday, I had a very nice 25th Birthday! Since it fell on a rainy, Tuesday, I spent the day opening presents and hanging out with my family. At night, my sister and I went to the Cheesecake Factory and to see Black Swan at the movies. Today, my parents are taking me to dinner and this weekend, I'm going out with my friends to celebrate at the bars. Sunday is the Super Bowl, so hopefully my birthday week will cap off with a victory! I was really surprised at how many people wished me a happy birthday! It was so nice to hear from everyone :)

I got a few really nice gifts from my parents and my sister! But since I haven't officially launched my YouTube channel, I thought I'd do a haul blog instead.

My Dad got me the Canon Vixia HF M31 video camera! It's so lightweight and compact! I haven't had a chance to play around with it yet but it has great reviews and I think I'm going to love it! I'm going to use this camera to film my YouTube videos- so, no more excuses! As soon as I get down to my normal weight, I'll start filming! My Dad also got me a laptop case- much needed!


One of the things my Mom got me is something I really wanted. Since I turned 25, I wanted a keepsake that would remind me of this time in my life. My birthstone is amethyst but I didn't want a traditional purple stone. I saw green amethyst online and fell in love. It's also called praseolite. It's a very light green stone. My mom got me a gorgeous pair of earrings from one of the jewelers in downtown Pittsburgh! They are so sophisticated yet simple. I can wear them with just about anything! I LOVE them and will hopefully have them forever!


My sister knows how much I love make-up, so she got me some products and brushes from MAC! I'm really excited to finally have Satin Taupe (eyeshadow). It's the perfect neutral shade! She also got me some of the new, Revlon Colorburst lipsticks and lipglosses! They are one of my favorite products right now! Such a great value! I also got the Urban Decay Naked palette! I thought for sure it would be sold-out (as usual) but my Mom said she scored the last one at Ulta. It's the older set that includes the duo eyeliner not the brush! This made me so happy since I know they changed the packaging!



I also ordered a pair of KORS Michael Kors rain boots that arrived on my birthday! I got them from ShopBop.com on sale! I thought they were super cute and since it was raining on my birthday, I wore them out to dinner. They kind of remind me of Daria Morgendorffer's combat boots but they are still adorable. I think they will be perfect for all of the mud at Bonnaroo in June!

Stow Lace-up Rubber Boots

I'm so grateful for all my gifts and I'm excited to see what this year has in store for me! :)

Love,
Krista


Now Playing: "Fancy" by Drake

Beauty Tag: This or That

MAKEUP:
blush or bronzer: Blush! I'm naturally fair-skinned so I have a difficult time "bronzing" without looking like I escaped from Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. My favorite blush is Shimmer Pink Pool by Lancome.

lip gloss or lipstick: I love lipstick but I rarely wear it without a gloss over top. Gloss is much easier and I can throw it on without fussing. So, I guess that forces me to pick lipgloss.

eye liner or mascara: Eyeliner is like a close friend but Mascara is your boyfriend. Friendship is lots of fun but nothing suits the face better than the look of love. Make sense? Yeah, I didn't think so. You can always create the look of liner with eyeshadow. Mascara!

foundation or concealer: I have used a 3-in-1 forumla (foundation, concealer, powder) from CoverGirl (Ultimate Finish Liquid Powder Makeup) since grade school. It's my best friend and so cheap! In addition to that, I also use MAC's Studio Fix which also works as a concealer for my fair skin. I hate feeling like I'm wearing a mask, so I avoid pure, liquid foundation. I definitely need concealer bc I suffer from breakouts and redness around the nose. I am looking into choosing a tinted moisturizer and finding a stronger concealer. I'm still relatively young (I avoid the sun and don't smoke), so I try to keep my coverage as light as possible. So, my answer is concealer. Now, I confused myself.

neutral or color eye shadow: Neutral! The vast majority of the time, I'm wearing golds, peaches, browns, taupes, bronzes, etc. The most color you'll see me wear is purple. It's seldom that I branch out with color. I have such fair skin that I can easily look like a drag queen.

pressed or loose eye shadow: Pressed! I find loose eyeshadow to be extremely messy. It leaves fallout and it takes more time to apply. I'm not a fan at all.

brushes or sponges: Brushes for eyes & cheeks, sponges for foundation/powder. I don't use either for lips.

NAILS:
OPI or china glaze: OPI! I love the colors, quality, packaging, names. I only have a couple China Glaze polishes and they cracked really quickly. I don't like the name of the brand either.

Long or short: Short. It looks elegant- not to mention my nails never stay long.

Acrylic or natural: Au-natural. I generally don't have the time, patience or money to get my nails done professionally. I prefer to be "real".

Brights or darks: I like bright toes but dark hands (or neutrals).

Flower or no flower: None! I think it looks a bit tacky and childish.

BODY:
perfume or body splash: Perfume! Chance by Chanel has been my "signature scent" since high school ('03-'04) but I have a growing collection.

lotion or body butter: Lotion. I don't own any body butter. I like Vaseline, Olay and good old Cocoa Butter.

body wash or soap: Body wash when I have it but soap doesn't bother me. I really love the smell and feel of Neutrogena's Rainbath.

lush or other bath company: I'm not familiar with Lush. I used to like Bath & Body Works until it changed its packaging. Victoria's Secret works for me.

FASHION:
jeans or sweat pants: I wish I actually put effort into my appearance but unless I'm going "out" or somewhere important, I stick to sweats. So comfy! You'd never look at me and think I knew a thing about beauty or fashion. Don't judge a book by its cover, haha.

stripes or plaid: As a child of the 90s and a Catholic school girl for 13 years (K-12), I'm a fan of plaid!

flip flops or sandals: Flip Flops! I have distorted feet- "Haglund's Deformity". Sadly, this isn't a joke. I live for flip-flop season. They are the only shoes that don't give me blisters.

scarves or hats: I love both but if I had to choose one, I'd go with hats.

studs or dangly earrings: I have tons of chandelier earrings but they aren't really in style any more. They aren't really wearable for every day and do tug at your lobes. Studs are understated and more my personality.

necklaces or bracelets: I don't really like necklaces bc I have a large chest. They get in the way. I also hate the feeling of having something around my neck. I have a few statement pieces that are the perfect length but 95% of the time I don't wear necklaces. I love the look of a bare neck. Bracelets can be pretty but they get in the way too much. I'm very simple in my jewelry. I usually just wear a ring and a pair of stud earrings.

heels or flats: I'm usually wearing flats because they are comfortable but when I go "out" it's stilletos all the way.

cowboy boots or riding boots: Riding boots! So chic and sophisticated.

forever 21 or charlotte russe: Forever21- One of my favorite stores!

abercrombie or Hollister: Abercrombie bc they make decent sweats but I don't shop at either store. That California surfer style turns me off. It screams "high schooler" or "frat guy from the suburbs" to me.

saks 5th or nordstrom: For me, Nordstrom is at the mall in the suburbs about 10 minutes north and Saks is downtown. I'm a city girl but I can afford more at Nordstrom. So, Nordstrom.

HAIR:
curly or straight: My hair is naturally wavy/straight. I don't really style it. I blow dry it, throw my fingers through it and go. I let the color do the talking. It's so thick and usually pretty long. I don't have the patience or skills to style it. I also don't really like the way I look when my hair is too styled. I like the look of natural, bouncing locks.

bun or ponytail: I throw it up in a twisty little bun and clip it when I'm around the house or tie it back in a pony tail if I'm going to be in public, lol.

bobby pins or butterfly clips: Clips. My hair is so thick, I'd need too many bobby pins to secure it properly.

hair spray or gel: I don't wear hair spray often but if I put my hair in a sleek pony tail, I'll use it.

long or short: I've always had long hair. My hair is a huge part of my identity. I don't think I'll have short hair for a very long time.

light or dark: I'm a natural redhead. I have bright hair? lol. It has golden strands mixed with reds, coppers, browns... even a few white strands (I've had them since I was little).

side sweep bangs or full bangs: Neither flatters my face shape but side swept bangs can sometimes look all right on me.

RANDOM:
Rain or shine: I love the rain! It doesn't bother me unless I'm driving or have outdoor plans.

Summer or winter: Winter- Christmas, hockey, football, my birthday, St. Patrick's Day, fresh air, NO HEAT!

Fall or spring: Fall is my favorite time of the year!!! Spring is usually nice in Pittsburgh as well but nothing tops Autumn leaves, Halloween, football season, etc.!

Chocolate or vanilla: Vanilla Ice Cream, Chocolate for chocolates lol


Now Playing: High Violet (Full Album) by The National