Wet n Wild Megalast Nail Polish in Club Havana Swatch.

I actually love this Wet n Wild, but I didn't think that I would love this color. I bought it on a whim, and never applied it. I ended up wanting to do something different tonight, and put this on for kicks. I actually like it! I'm quite surprised.

*Today was my day off, and I baked a lemon pound cake. I got a little bit of flour on my leggings, but I thought that I had brushed it off sufficiently. However, the flash on my camera picked it up, and managed to make me look like a total slob. I'm not, but I have my "day off and sitting around the house" clothes that I love to wear when I'm not forced to look presentable. 

Neutrogena Naturals Fresh Cleansing + Makeup Remover Review

I used this nightly, as my pre-bed cleanser and used it as a makeup remover about half the time. It smells really good, not a typical "natural" scent, but nice and fresh. It removes makeup fairly well, but I still felt more comfortable using a makeup remover with it. I don't wear much makeup, but this seemed to have a bit of trouble removing my non-waterproof Diorshow mascara. 

This is not an amazing cleanser, but if I saw it on an good sale I might repurchase. It is just a basic cleanser with a nice scent. 

The Cartier Ring.

I love Cartier's Panthere line. There was one ring that I saw in a magazine a while back, and I was completely unable to find it on the website. It is truly my dream ring, and I hope to one day have one of my own. I really like the shape of the last one, but find it to be gaudy. If it were platinum instead with the emerald eyes and black nose, I might be more into it. The overabundance of jewels makes me cringe. I like the middle ring the most of all three as is, and the facial shape of the first. 

My name is Kat, and I want a cat ring. One of these would be my dream commitment ring. 

It isn't a conditioner, so it doesn't count.

It is an overnight treatment cream, and that is totally different than a conditioner. Technically, I have not broken my commitment to not purchasing more conditioners. 

I bought this during a moment of weakness, and then applied it that night. Both my boyfriend and I thought it looked awesome the next day. I have only used it once, and my hair has looked pretty good since then. Tonight is my second application, and it is part of the products I'm going to be reviewing in September, after I have used it a few more times. 

Yes, I am weak. And a promising hair product is always going to be tempting.

Thoughts.

I have been worrying about stupid crap lately. Money, mostly. Worrying about finding a job near my university this fall, being able to pay the rent on our apartment, etc. Wondering if everything is going to stay amazing with my boyfriend when I move in, and if his friends are going to like me, and if I should stick with my current majors or go to med school. 

And then today I saw that Steve Jobs resigned, and it looks like it is due to health problems. I realized that life is unpredictable. I mean, he has worked his ass off. He is brilliant, dedicated, and hard working. One of the wealthiest men in the States. And he has no way to control this, no way to stop this. 

It was sobering, and I guess I realized that, while I have to work towards my future, I have to let go a little bit. Money may be tight this fall, I might go hungry, and I may not have a fucking clue as to whether or not I will be an behavioral science/forensic anthropology major or a neurosurgeon. 

I'm not stupid enough to say I'm okay with it. I'm anxious, jittery, and running five directions at once. I won't be okay with this for a while. Eventually, I will be, and that is what I'm holding on to. 

Beautiful Things Revamped 1

NARS Lipstick in Damage: A Review/Swatch/Shipping rave.

I fell completely in love with this shade when I went into Sephora after a truly wretched day. I buy lipstick when I'm stressed, and I wanted something to lift my spirits. Unfortunately, this was the one color that they didn't have (and were too lazy to look for/check for nearby availability. My local Sephora is in JC Penney and is terrible.)

Anyway... I wanted it. Badly. I finally decided that I was going to suck it up and just order it from the website. I figured that I was going to have to pay a bunch for the shipping and then wait for the next six billion months. Not true. They were/are offering free two day shipping. They sent it to me via FedEx, and it arrived perfect. It is over 90 degrees on average in my area, and I was afraid they would just drop it on my doorstep, letting it melt. Luckily, they didn't. I wasn't home when they came by, so I had to drive out and pick it up from the local office. 

When I unwrapped it, it was amazing. The lipstick was the only thing I ordered, but they had wrapped it with tissue paper, enough to fill the box, added a printout of everything I ordered, and a quote on a card. It was fantastic. I recommend them 100% and will definitely be ordering from them again in the future.

The lipstick itself is perfection. Smooth, semi-glossy, and with just enough color to take me from summer to fall without seeming overly made up. Its staying power is excellent while still feeling sheer and fresh. Love!

Yay outtakes! I wanted to post this tonight, but I don't have a decent camera and it is 9pm here. I snapped this and wanted to weep. Beautiful, no? I'm so completely exhausted after work today, and look it. Ick! 

Finger Paints "What An Exhibition"

This is one of my favorite reds! The first picture isn't as true to color as the second picture is, but I included both just to show how smooth the color is. I really need a quality camera, and plan to get one sometime after Thanksgiving. 

It Is Too Freaking Hot.

True story: 

I get home from work, eat dinner, and sit down on the couch to watch tv. Somehow I manage to fall asleep. I wake up, and my first thought is "I must be coming down with something! I am so hot and sticky and gross feeling." I proceed to semi-panic because I can't really afford to take any time off from work, but since I talk almost all day I'm not able to work much when I'm ill. I never think to check the temperature of the house.

I randomly get up and decide to wash my face, brush my teeth, and head to bed a bit early to see if I can head off the worst of it before tomorrow. I figured that I might be able to get away with just taking the first half of the day off if I were to really take care of myself tonight. 

I walk into the bathroom with all of my pre-bed routine essentials, and I glance at the little thermometer by the bathroom door. It is 80 degrees in the house. It is generally about 68 degrees in my office, and that twelve degree difference kicked my butt. Thankfully, I have washed my face, drank a bit of iced tea, and  am feeling better. I just can't sleep now! It is far too hot for me to fall back asleep. 

Yes. I fail.

The Skin Care Chronicles: Part One.

My face has been miserably dry lately. Miserably! I'm not quite sure why it has been so dry, especially when I have been moisturizing faithfully and drinking plenty of water. I'm actually thinking about blaming the air conditioning at my office — I'm bloody frozen all day, worse than the wintertime. 

Anyway... I have been searching for the perfect moisturizer for a while now. I tend to buy a massive jar of it, and then get bored/get a bad reaction/find something that looks better and the jar ends up being halfway used and left alone. This time, I got smart. I went in to Sephora, and got a mini jar of it — a half ounce. 

I plan to write a gloriously long review about it later on, but I just have two things to say now:

One: it made my face look AWESOME today when I used it before my makeup/Prep+Prime. 

Two (and perhaps the most important): This shit smells awful. Like, tried to be lemony-fresh and ended up smelling like bile. Seriously, it is like an acidic lemon scent. 

This may be difficult for me, because I really am picky about the scents of products that I put on my face, but my skin seems to really like it. These are only my initial thoughts though, and it may destroy my skin or magically start smelling delicious, though I am doubtful. 

Workouts on Demand: A bit of an experiment.

I've been a bit grouchy lately, whining about how I've gotten pudgy, but not gained any weight. I started a desk job in mid-June, and I ended my gym membership in May because I was moving. I had been working out pretty faithfully before, and now that I haven't been working out at all I've started losing muscle. 

I have decided that instead of being whiny and sour about it, I'm going to do something about it. Since I'm only going to be here for about a month more, and there aren't any gyms near here that allow a month to month membership, I'm going to do an online video program. I really like yoga and Pilates, and I want to improve my flexibility. Plus, I don't have much in the way of fitness equipment and don't want to have to buy a bunch of bulky equipment that I would have to try to move into my apartment in the fall. 

I did the tiniest bit of online research, and I decided to try Workouts on Demand. They seem to offer a lot of what I want, and they are running a special right now (roughly $6 for a month.) I plan to do at least one workout a day 6 days a week, because I have a ballet class on Monday.

I signed up today, am going to start today, and will post my thoughts, reflections, and results at the end of the month. 

I am going to put more effort into making myself happy, instead of whining. 

Admitting An Addiction: The Conditioner Chronicles.

Hi. I'm Kat, and I am an addict. 

I buy conditioner. Sometimes more than a bottle a month. I use it for a couple of weeks, and then stop when I buy my next bottle. I have really been trying to quit, and it has been a month or more since I have purchased any sort of conditioning product. 

I want the Nexxus ProMend conditioner. I do. And quite possibly the overnight treatment as well. 

Logically, I know that I don't need another conditioner, and I should just use up what I have already. And yet... I love the idea of it covering up any damage that I may have and not notice. And I dye my hair, which means that I need to take extra special care of it. It also smells really good, and the bottle is fairly large, even though it is expensive for a mid-level conditioner. 

I'm trying to use up the products that I have collected before I move into our new apartment — it is gorgeous, and the bedroom is huge, but there is no storage. Especially in the bathroom. And I don't want to buy a shower rack just to hold all of my conditioning products. B is incredibly loving and long-suffering, but I don't think he wants to spend his showers dodging my flying conditioners.

What I feel (This Week in We Heart It Images, Because I have no camera) #1

The Post-Event Hangover/Destruction.

This image has literally nothing to do with this post. I just find it completely awesome.

Also. I have been on a wretched junk-food "binge" type thing. Basically, my eating habits have been terrible and I feel gross. I'm getting back to my fruits/veg and joining Netflix for their Pilates videos and everything else. 

I have grown tired of pizza. 

That is all.

Essie Coat Azure Nail Lacquer Swatch/Review

This is the first Essie polish that I have liked, and I actually got it on sale at Target. I tried two others, and I was quite "meh" with the formula. I guess I just got duds or something, because this one was amazing. It was the perfect consistency, covered well with two coats, and the color is gorgeous. 

This Month I'm Trying.

I don't have much going on this month, and therefore I am going to test a crap-ton of products. Yay extra time on my hands/an excessive desire for self improvement.

• Rembrandt Intense Stain Whitening Toothpaste
• Boots Eye Makeup Remover
• Neutrogena Naturals Makeup Removing Cleanser
• Urban Decay Naked Palette
• Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion
• Diorshow Mascara 
• NYX Eyeliner

Why did I wait so long?

Me looking completely and utterly slaughtered with frizzy hair and messed-up makeup. YAY!

I met my boyfriend's father today. He is literally the nicest man I have ever met, second to my fantastically awesome boyfriend. I mean, it may be his "first meeting" persona, but he just radiated warmth. I was seriously just like... wow. His sense of humor lined up so well with mine, and I hope that he liked me as much as I liked him. It may seem weird, but it is a huge deal to me. My boyfriend's mum was underwhelmed with me, and I'm hoping that his father will at least be accepting of me. It would make our future so much easier, with holidays and such. I don't want every other Christmas to be stiff and uncomfortable. 

I just avoided it so much, out of fear. I'm really hoping to stop using fear as an excuse from here on in. 

Also, he has the friendliest dogs ever. I left wanting a dog soooooo badly. Terrible, I know. 

I miss my boyfriend so much! I have one month of this job left. Just.One.Month. I like my work, but I love being with him. I'm making plans for our apartment, and I'm just so excited. 

Also, there is a ninja spider in my bedroom. It sprinted out in front of me on the rug, and before I could put my computer down to annihilate it, it ran back under a huge piece of furniture. Yes, I'm unhappy. Evil little buggers. I let them live if they are outside, but the second they invade my home, they are asking to die. I'm more than willing to assist them in their suicide.

I know that I said I was going to....

I was planning to post my goals/products for this month, but I'm actually waiting for my boyfriend to come pick me up. I'm going to see his father tomorrow, as a part of my twenty by twenty. I'm completely and utterly terrified. 

Also, while I sit here trying to think of something to say other than "OMG I'M SHAKING" there is a spider that has been circling the ceiling. I think that it is doing it on purpose. I hate spiders, and I would kill this one if it wasn't on the very bumpy ceiling. Grrrrrrr. 

My Fitness Pal Pre-Review/The Beginning of My August Goals.

Soooo... I have been using MFP for that last month or so, somewhat halfheartedly, and have lost 6 pounds. It is a great way to raise awareness. I measure everything out now, and it is a bit eye-opening to realize exactly how small one serving can be!

I am going to buy myself one more Burberry Lipstick at the end of the month if I get to 140lbs. I am trying to restrict my spending after today, and this will be my final treat.

Tomorrow will be my list of goals/products I'm testing! I'm actually super excited about this month.

L'oreal Go 360 Clean Deep Facial Cleanser Review

I tried this in the morning, in my shower, and oddly enough I had the exact opposite problem with this as I did the Garnier cleanser: Awesome packaging, meh cleanser. It wasn't a bad cleanser, but I plan to use it up and refill it with Philosophy Purity cleanser. 

I did buy the gentle one for my younger sister, and it cleared up her skin completely. Seriously, she had little breakouts all over her forehead, and scrubbing her face with it twice a day has made her skin freaking amazing. 

Overall? I completely recommend the bomb-ass packaging and the gentle cleansing formula. Cheap, super effective, and I like it.

Garnier "The Brusher" Microbead Cleanser Review

I have a completely mixed review on this. First off, I used this in the evening, after a makeup remover before bed for about a month. I use tretinoin cream, so I was only using this as a basic cleanser/exfoliator, not to remove acne or do anything amazing. 

I really wanted to be able to give it a good review. I LOVE the cleansing gel itself. It smells good, has a nice texture, and is exfoliating without being overly aggressive. Amazing. 

Where everything falls apart is the packaging, the brush to be exact. I think it is the length of the bristles, because I had to use an insane amount of product to actually get any on my face. I followed the directions to the letter, and it just didn't work out. At all. If the bristles were shorter, I would have been able to create a fairly decent lather with them and it would have been pleasant. 

Also: the brush is a bit over-gripping of the skin, especially when you can't get enough product to the tips of the bristles. It would be almost painful afterwards. I wondered if it was just my skin, but I bought one for my mum to try (her skin is like a bomb-proof fortress. Nothing irritates it or makes it dry/break out. Seriously, at 52 she has the best skin.) and she said that it was uncomfortable and her face was a bit red and irritated afterwards. 

I cannot recommend this product, and that makes me sad, because it is a good cleanser in bad packaging. However, if I see this on sale I may end up buying it and putting it in a different container. I really did like the smell and texture of the cleanser — it is just the packaging that is wretched.