MY 21st BIRTHDAY

Usually I am not one of those poeple who counts down the days for my birthday or announces it to those around me, and dare I admit that I actually dread getting birthday calls, someone tell me I'm not the only one? I'm just one of those people who prefers to blend into the crowd rather then be the center of attention. But this year 21 was clearly a big one! which needed to be welcomed in and counted down weeks before.

Since I do have a twin brother all the details from which cake to order, which restaurant to go to and all that has to be agreed upon by both. Normally it takes many conversations to decide on all that since we do have very different tastes. Fortunately my brother is also very laid back and is simple as can be. He could care less about all those finer details. So knowing how much I obsess over all those details, he said that I can choose everything and his only request was that he have his favorite meal at a Asian bistro for lunch. So that is where we started our day. While my younger brothers were at school and my dad at work, my mom took us for a nice lunch. She also made arrangements to pick up the cake after, so we drove to the bakery and while we were there we each choose a small pastry to enjoy. The rest of the afternoon was spent getting ready and changing outfits for the evening.

For dinner everyone met at one of our favorite tex-mex restaurant. Next, we drove home and took loads of pictures, watched birthday videos that my dad had chosen for us to watch, opened gifts and cards, got sung to and ate some cake. For the rest of the evening my brother and I spent it surrounded by our favorite people enjoying the night.

It was a bit of a struggle to wake up so early the next morning but we eventually got up, packed and got in the car for a girls only trip to Dallas for the weekend. More on that in a later post! Overall I had an amazing 21st Birthday and I have to say it feels pretty good to finally be 21. It's also kinda scary though since all those huge life moments apparently happen in your 20s, exciting times ahead!! Now one promise I want to make to myself is that from this moment on, I will use day and night creams, eye creams, and serums or something of that sort every night and day. No excuses. I'm telling myself right now! I better stick to it, cause I know I don't want to regret that in a few years. 

OPI ROYAL RAJAH RUBY

O.P.I Royal Rajah Ruby

I bought this color last year and ended up not liking it on my nails, so I tossed it to the bottom of my nail polish box and there it has stayed unused since last fall. Sunday night though I dug into the bottom of my box and spotted it. I thought might as well give it another go cause I mean, why the heck not. So as I applied it, I thought mehh, flat, boring, dull. It still wasn't doing it for me. But then, then! I applied my sally hansen mega shine top coat and that made all the difference. It added the boost of shine and dimension that it needed. All throughout the day I found myself staring at my nails and we all know when that happens, you know you have a great one on your hands!

I typically don't wear reds, burgundy's or berry colored polishes just because I don't think they look that flattering on me. This one though is dark, deep and vampy, yet it still manages to allow enough of the red tones to show through that it isn't one of those 'almost black' colors. If your considering this, just keep in mind that it can pull slightly brown which may put some off to it. I definitely know this is a color I'll be re-applying well into the holidays and winter. Glad I gave this another chance, it's a real gem! (Ha! see what I did there! Ruby? Gem?..No? okay. I'll leave now.)

LUSTING AFTER... NO.2

ByCorpus Moto Jacket / Sam Edelman Boots / Necklace / Sparkle & Fade Sweater / Earrings 

My 21st birthday is quickly approaching and now only 5 days away! My parents have been asking me what I want and as usual I haven't given them an idea. For a 21st I feel the nicest thing would be to receive something timeless and classic. I don't know, I want to be able to have something when I'm 30 and still be able to say I got it for my 21st, Ya know? So with that in mind I've spent more than a couple of hours going store to store, web page to web page trying to find something to put on my birthday wishlist. I now have a couple of items in mind that aren't on this lust list but I'm still not 100%.

This morning I ended up on the Urban Outfitters website after receiving an email from them and I found a few items that I would love to see in my closet one day. In all honesty, I'll probably end up with cash and a card and do the shopping myself. Fun times! Who knows maybe I'll end up getting at least one of the items shown here, or maybe not. Anyway, can't say it hasn't been fun searching!

CHANEL MADEMOISELLE 05 LIPSTICK

Chanel Rouge Coco Mademoiselle 05 Lipstick ($32.50)

The rest of my make up: Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation 5.0 / Mac Studio Sculpt Concealer NC35 / Too Faced Shadow Insurance / Sleek Au Natural Palette (second row 1st & 2nd shadows) Dior Amber Diamond / Mac Blacktrack / Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara / Mac Blushbaby Blush

MAKE UP FOREVER N28

I'm wearing purple lipstick!!! Well...kinda. Make Up Forever's Rouge Artist Natural N28 lipstick ($19) is a wearable version of a purple lip. Strangely from the bullet it looks exactly like Barney's color but on the lips it translates as a purple but with the right amount of pink thrown into the mix. The only problem I'm having with this lipstick is that I don't have a blush to compliment the color. I guess that's when blushes like Nars Douceur come in! Other then that the texture is smooth, thin, comfortable and glossier then most. Pretty reminiscent to the luster formula by Mac. As far as lasting power it's pretty standard, nothing extraordinary. Overall I enjoy wearing this lipstick enough that I would consider looking into more shades from the line.

OCTOBER FAVORITES

Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum: This really helps to tame the massive amount of frizz that I get (my biggest hair issue) it also adds some shine that I normally lack because of the dry, dull nature of my hair. This also gets bonus points for not being heavy on my hair. I literally can't bare to use hair products that make my hair feel greasy. This also smells amazing! thumbs up from me.
Sally Hansen Mega Shine Top Coat: Sally Hansen got it right with this Mega Shine top coat. I've tried a few top coats and have not been pleased, even the beloved Seche Vete wasn't worthy of a repurchase. This one though has impressed. It helps my nail polish last at least 4 days with no noticeable chipping. It also gives me the shiny finish that I was never getting from using other top coats. Now this is one I will run out to buy when the brush goes dry. 
Vaseline Lip Therapy: This actually moisturizes my lips better than any other lip balm I've used in recent months. Its thick but not oily and it gives a nice glossy sheen. You get none of that white cast nonsense with this! A must have especially during these seasons when it's supposed to be cooling down, apparently my area hasn't gotten the memo that it's fall. 90 degrees in November, unacceptable.
Loreal Infaliable Eye: For those of you who choose and extra 10 minutes in bed to an extra 10 to get ready then this is product for you. It's quick, easy and eye brightening.
Mac Hug Me Lipstick: Is the one I've been grabbing for on most days when I have class. Ladies and gents I seem to have found the perfect everyday, holy grail status, neutral!
Mac Blacktrack: An old fav that keeps on giving! I've had it for nearly 2 years now and it's still going strong!
Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Color Spiced Cider: Hands down my favorite blush at the moment. A nice terra cotta color which I can't get enough of. The longevity of this blush is really impressive making it ideal for anyone who doesn't like to lug around make-up to retouch.

REVLON RASPBERRY BITE LIPSTICK

Apparently I've been possessed by the bold lip babes because I have been wearing this bold color and shades alike pretty often. I previously never really understood the appeal of a bold lip color, but I get it now, I totally get it! I'm amazed at how a lipstick with just a bit more colored pigment to it can make one feel sophisticated, adventurous and like a total bad ass! Not that I'm either of these things but I can pretend! right?

LUSTING AFTER...NO.1

Topshop Shirt- $64 / Nasty Gal Spiked Fringe Necklace- $20 / Laura Mercier Caviar Stick $24 / Josie Maran Argan Oil- $48

I PAINTED MY FACE WITH...

Real Techniques Buffing Brush / Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation 5.0 / Mac Studio Sculpt Concealer NC35 / Mac BlackTrack Fluidline / Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light to Medium Bisque / Mac Espresso / Maybelline Color Tattoo Audacious Asphalt / Laura Mercier Blush in Spiced Cider / Mac Hug Me Lipstick / Real Techniques Blush Brush

NAILED IT: SERIOUSLY IT'S AS GOOD AS GOLD

Essie-Good as Gold

It's gold, metallic and an essie, no faults can be found in this polish. It's opaque with one coat but I always apply two just out of habit. There's no awkward streaking to be found here and it's extremely light reflective and shiny especially after using a good top coat, I use Sally Hansens mega shine top coat. Picture this, stacks on stacks of gold rings and this polish, fierce combination!

REVLON SIREN

All this talk about berry and deep burgundy colored lipsticks had me wanting to switch things up. Finishing off my makeup this morning, I needed to seal the deal with a lipstick. 2 to 3 swatches later and I opted for Revlon's Siren. It's a bright orange leaning towards the coral side of things. It was the nice little pick me up I needed to get me through the day. Plus being that it's Friday it's a good color to take me into the evening.