How to Be Happy!

How to be Happy!

1. Be your own BFF!
Enjoy your own company. Embrace everything about you! Without a doubt, it’s the most important step towards being a happy person.


2. Smile, Giggle, or Chuckle
Smiling releases serotonin in the brain, which instantaneously gives your mood a lift.


3. Sing Out Loud!
Shut the doors and the windows, or take a ride in the car, put on your favorite song, and belt it out!


4. Indulge in Dark Chocolate
Savor a small piece and watch your mood improve.


5. Expect a Miracle
Believe that something wonderful will happen for you today. The universe is waiting to shower good fortune upon you.


6. Laugh at Your Shortcomings
We all make mistakes; none of us is perfect. Forgive your imperfections, accept your faults, and laugh.

7. Sleep, Baby, Sleep
Seven or eight hours each night should increase your energy and decrease moodiness.


8. Count Your Blessings Daily
Gratitude, being thankful, is one of the key ingredients for living a happy life. Make gratitude a habit and happiness will be yours.


9. Wake Up Early!
Start the day off on a happy foot, with a happy thought. The morning hours are full of spiritual energy and prana (life force).


10. Let the Sun Shine In
20 minutes of sunlight per day improves mood and wards of Seasonal Affection Disorder (SAD).


11. Say "Good Job!"
Give yourself permission to pat yourself on the back. Recognize your accomplishments and positive qualities.


12. Catch Happiness from Others
Remembering that happiness is contagious, surround yourself with happy, positive people who share your values, goals, and dreams.



13. Grow a Garden
Watching plants grow and thrive under your care is thrilling!


14. Pencil in 'Quiet' Time
Each and every day sit awhile, without television, without magazines, without the Internet. Just be!


15. Exercise!
Studies have shown that exercise releases endorphins in the brain, which in turn cause us to have what is commonly know as a "natural high" or a "runners high".
Exercising can improve the way you perceive your physical condition, athletic abilities and body image. Enhanced self-esteem is another benefit.


16. Look to the Future
Set goals and then make plans to succeed and take action. Pursuing something we value always makes us happy.



17. Accept What You Cannot Change
Don't waste your precious time, energy, or thoughts on something that is beyond your control. Let it go.


18. Change what you can!
If something in your life makes you unhappy that you CAN change. Do it! don't sit around complaining about something you have every way of fixing, spend that time being proactive!


19. Take a Cat Nap
A 10-minute nap is all it takes to rejuvenate your spirit and get the happiness to flow.


20. Love Everything
Love who you are. Love what you are doing. Love the person you're with. Love your friends and your enemies, too. Love! Love! Love!


21. Focus on the positive
If you look for positive things in your life and around you... you will find them. If you look for the negative.. well you'll find that too... so DONT!

Nars Favorites Haul, Review, and Swatches!

So about two months ago, there was a coupon code for Nars for 20% off!  At the time there was nothing new out, but I was just itching to get a few things for 20% off!  So I got a few things that I needed back-ups of.  So these are all products I have had before and used up! So I obviously really like them all!

Swatches below!

First up, Copacabana Multiple.

This was probably one of my first purchases, 10 years ago when I discovered Nars. Its described as a glistening pearl, which I think is the perfect description.  Its a great cream highlighter for cheekbones, brow bones, and anywhere else you want to highlight!  I also like to wear it over my eyelids and smoke out a powder liner into it.   It creates a great semi smokey eye with a pearlescent sheen- almost wet looking. I think it looks awesome!

Galaxy Girl Lipstick

This is described as a baby doll pink with flecks of gold.   Its very sheer, and leaves a slight pinkish tint, with the slightest golden glow.  This also is an item I started purchasing about ten years ago!  Sometimes I layer Baby Doll lip lacquer on top for more of a pink punch. 

Belle Du Jour Lipstick

This is described as an "innocent nude beige."  This is a more recent purchase, and I didn't use to wear nude lips as much.   Its probably my favorite nude lipstick.   I feel like a lot are too light and make it look like your lips match your face.  Belle Du Jour just neutralizes your lip color and doesn't make you look washed out.

Night Flight Eyeshadow

This is one of the Night series, which are almost all black eye shadows, with another color glitter thrown in. Night Flight is described as a black with blue cobalt pearls.  This is my favorite of the night series, and I used it as eyeliner regularly.  I prefer using powders as eyeliners as I think they look more natural, since you can smudge them into your lash line more so than a pencil.   They are also easier ( I think) to wing out, or smudge, to accomplish many different looks.

 I recommend the entire Night series! They are great!

(one warning - they seem to crumble easier than other shadows, may have to do with the mixture of the "pearl" glimmer in it.  Be very careful as it will make a MESS of your makeup if  Night Series Eyeshadow breaks inside it!)

I also purchased Scopios and Aigle Noir Soft Eyeshadow Pencil

I havent had a chance to play with them, but they are gorgeous colors.

Here are swatches!

from left to right

Aigle Noir  Soft Touch Eyeshadow Pencil

Scorpios Soft Touch Eyeshadow Pencil

Night Flight Eyeshadow

Belle Du Jour Lipstick

Galaxy Girl Lipstick

Copacabana Multiple

Smashbox Ultimate Eyes Kit - for Blue Eyes

So I have mentioned before that I purchase the kit - Smashbox Master's Class: Ultimate Eyes - Blue at Sephora.  It is $59.  And yes, I bought it myself!

Heres whats included

- 0.04 oz Limitless Eye Liner in Espresso

- 0.273 oz Eye Shadow Quad in Ultimate Eyes-Blue

- 0.3 oz Hyperlash Mascara in Blackout

- 0.035 oz Artificial Light Luminizing Powder

- 0.08 oz Photo Finish Lid Primer

- 0.05 oz Cream Eye Liner in Obsidian

 

I finally got to play with it today!

I did the most natural look that is included in a booklet with three different looks.

 

 

 

So its basically just a wash of the lighter brown color over your entire lid into crease, the darker brown smudged in the outer V and under eye.  The highlighting powder in the inner corner, and I added the Obsidian as a liner.

Its a subtle look, but I really like it! The colors are most definitely flattering to blue eyes.  I am not thrilled with the liner,  I don't think Smashbox cream liners last a very long time, but it is a pretty color!

I love the quad, and all four colors. I love that they threw in a darker grey creme liner, because I sometimes think too much brown, makes your eyes look more red (warm based browns obviously) The highlighting powder is amazing! Only thing. The sponge applicator has sooo much product on it when you take it out of the tube, that you cant apply i directly to your face or you will end up with a big blob of highlighter. So i just ran my small pointed tip eyeshadow brush across the top and used that. I haven't used the brown liner yet, and I don't plan on every using the mascara (I stick with my nars and shu uemura mascara). But all in all I think the kit is definitely worth the $59.

I will try the smokier look and post the results of those looks soon!

Nars Limited Edition Lipgloss at Sephora

On July 29th, NARS will roll out five limited edition lip glosses at Sephora. Each will retail for $24 and is named after one of their most popular blushes.

Oasis - plummy mauve with gold shimmer.

Luster - sheer muted tangerine-peach with copper-gold shimmer.

Super Orgasm - sheer played down pink with gold shimmer.

Angelika  - semi-sheer brightened blue-based pink with very subtle silver shimmer.

Albatross - sheer white-gold with pale gold shimmer.

Nars lip glosses are hit or miss for me.  Some are amazing, and some are so sheer, that I don't think they are work the money.  My favorites right now are Sweet Revenge (a sheer pink grapefruit) Sunset Strip (tangerine with gold shimmer) and Sweet Dreams (pink grapefruit with gold shimmer) Hmmm see a pattern here? I will have to get some of the new glosses just to change things up!  I am curious to try Luster, Super Orgasm, and Angelika.  I will be sure to post swatches and my review when I get them!  Cant wait for them to arrive at Sephora!

What are your favorite lip glosses for the summer? 

Nars Fall 2010 Haul!

I am so excited I got my Nars Fall 2010 makeup in the mail! 
I ordered Tzarine and Rajasthan Eyeshadow Duo, Strawberry Fields Lipgoss, Daphne Eyeshadow, Douceor Blush.

My favorites of the collection are definitely Rajasthan and Douceor.

Daphne is very chalky, and doesn't have almost any color payoff. You have to mix it with a primer to get it to stick.  How they got the vivid color in the campaign photo I have no idea!

Here's the pictures and swatches!

Tzarine - a very pretty color, but I prefer darker blue/greens

Rajasthan - a metallic beigeish and a midnight blue/green 

Ive used it for a simple eye using the gold as an all over wash, and the darker color as liner.

Its also great for a smokey eye

Daphne (must have gotten other eyeshadow on it during swatching)

I thought this would be my favorite, but it was actually very disappointing.  Its completely chalky, and doesn't "stick" to your skin if you understand what I mean.  You would have to use it wet (I mixed it with Nars Eyeshadow Primer) to get any color payoff, but it would most likely be hard to blend then.  I will keep playing with it and report back.

Douceor - a very pretty non shimmery blush.  This is a great color for probably all skin tones, but is especially flatter on pinker skintones, because it balances out the pink with the brown tones in the blush.  Its definitely going to be one of my favorites!

Strawberry Fields

Very pretty and pigmented lipgloss. Scares me a bit becuse it is a little darker than  I had expected, but its the most perfect bright pink.   Hopefully I will have the guts to wear it!

left -Strawberry Fields, Daphne,

top right - Rajasthan, Tzarine under it

Here I have on Rajasthan Eyeshadow and Douceor Blush. The blush is a great color anyone with a pink undertone. It tones down the pink in your skin

And here is Strawberry Fields Lipgloss

I would love to hear from other people that got items from the Nars Fall 2010 Collection! please comment with your experiences!

More Mac Into the Groove! and Chanel Swatches

So I went back to Mac and ended up getting Style Influencer Mineralize Eyeshadow!

When I went in the day Into the Groove came out, the only eyeshadow I got was Soften the Mood, but I kept thinking back to Style Influencer and the great dark blue (reminded me of Nars Night Flight).

It is a GREAT trio!  the brownish shade I thought was goign to be to reddish, and I am not a fan of reddish eyeshadows, I think they make you look sick. but I was wrong about this one! its a great crease color for blending a smokey eye, then the white is a great highlight.

And I also got two Chanel Eyeshadows, Vert Khaki, and Taupe Gris, i havent had enough time to play with them yet, so I am sure there will be some upcoming posts about them!

here are the swatches!

left to right -  3 Style Influencer shades, Chanel Vert Khaki, Chanel Taupe Gris

My puppies!

I figured I would do a more personal post about a subject that is very important to me... my PUPPIES!!!! The two dogs to the left are Scotty(the black one basking in the sun) and Libby (tan one). Both of them were adopted from animal shelters. Scotty is from St. Huberts, which is an amazing animal shelter in NJ. They have two locations, one in Madison, and one in North Branch. I run in a 5k race every year with Scotty that raises money for St. Huberts. Its called Hounds and Harriers 5k. This year will be my 6th year running with Scotty! I've raised over $2000 for St. Huberts from peoples generous donations to sponsor me in the race.  St. Huberts takes a lot of dogs from the south, where there are not as many shelters, and MANY more strays.  Scotty was originally from West Virginia before he came to us.  Libby was from a small shelter run by a few people in New Paltz NY.  I cannot stress how important it is to rescue animals from shelters! there are so many animals that need homes!  and as you can see we got some cute ones!  I will be posting more about the race I am in as it gets closer.

I have grown up with dogs my entire life, and when I was little, we did get our pups from breeders.   We used to have dalmatians, Jessie, who we had before I was born, then Patches who we got when I was around 13.  To me, life is not complete without a dog! 

Me (in moms belly) Mom and Jessie!

Me, Mom and Jessie!!

Patches

Scotty and Patches

scotty playing in snow

Scotty loves to swim!

Scotty is a Steelers fan!

Libby!

Scotty and libby

Libby is so tired!

Scotty sitting up

Hounds and Harriers Race

Before the race

Scotty's "paris hilton" pose

Scottys doing downward facing dog

Scotty as a puppy with our old dog Patches

At the shelter!