Creating the Life I Want

It's been over two years since my last post.  There are so many excuses that I could give you as to why I haven't shared any posts on here, but my real answer is going to be that I was living.  I was making successes and failures.  I uprooted my world and moved, changed my career path and most recently my relationship status and moved back to my hometown.  

If that is not living, I don't know what is!

But, I'm not here to share the negative details, I'm going to share the positive changes that I've made to move forward towards the person that I want to be.  To hit you with a cliche I am "becoming my best self" or "living my best life".

Last year, I met my new creative "partner in crime", Michael Serine.  He approached me when he was in need of a makeup artist to collaborate on a shoot.  We didn't know what we wanted to shoot and then I found the #collaborationmastered free Master Class.  We did a huge production shoot where he and I built sets, made costume pieces, and styled our models ourselves.

We've since worked on some other creative and experimental shoots.

As well as some commercial shoots.

At the beginning of this year, I was signed as an artist for the beauty agency Dollface by Jules.

As well as a Beauty Ambassador for JMTM Cosmetics.

And a Beauty Blog Contributor for Jules Loves. Me

And that is just what has been developing in my career sector!

Now that we're past my career... Let's dive into the personal.  I've been cultivating a series of rituals in my life that include working out doing T25, Yoga, Meditation, and Journaling.  It sounds all new age and hippie, but it's what calms my "brand of crazy". 

I've lost 15lbs, my anxiety has been lowered, I've overcome a lot of my body image issues, and if I'm being honest.... I'm less of the person that I used to be and more of the person that I want to be.

Overall I'm in a better place and truly want to share more with y'all!

So what's coming up for my blog..... there will be Beauty Posts, DIY, and Integrative Lifestyle posts!!!

Stay Tuned!

Love,

Heather

My January: Resolutions Met, Favorites, etc...

January has come and gone so quickly....

 

Resolutions Met So Far:

1) I passed my Esthetician Licensing Exams!!!!  I'm just waiting for my License to come in Soon.  That was the most stressful and gratifying experience all at the same time...

 

2) I've been taking better care of my skin through some of the skincare treatments down below, as well as trying out a few classes of yoga and still trying to drink more water...

 

3) Books, Reading and Relaxing......

January Favorites:

 

I promised myself to start off the year that I would definitely use more sunscreen... I use it everyday and yes I use it even on overcast days because even though the sun is not out the rays are still there...

Coola Mineral Sunscreen Unscented Matte Tint SPF 30:

*Organic Suncare

-Antioxidant infused mineral matte tint

-Line smoothing

-Fights Aging

 

*Organic Ingredients:

-Rosehip Oil

-Vitamin C

-Evening Primrose

-Flaxseed Oils = Omega 3 and Gamma Linoleic Acid - Improves elasticity and retains moisture

*phyto-protector Plankton Extract - Skin Rejuvenator

 

Loves:

-I love the texture... it feels like the texture of Benefit's Porefessional Primer

-There is no sunscreen fragrance to it

- It makes my makeup go on so smooth

- That it's really great to my skin

-I love that it comes in a pump

 

Misses:

- I wish it was a little more like a tinted moisturizer in that I wish it had more coverage

 

Coola Sport Unscented Sunscreen Spray:

*Certified Organic Sunscreen Spray

*70%+ certified organic inactives

-Ultrasheer

*Farm to Face Sourced

*Organic Ingredients:

-Cucumber

-Algae

-Strawberry Extracts

-Red Raspberry Seed Oil - Omega 3 and 6

 

Loves:

- It's not greasy

- Cooling to the skin

- Absorbs quickly

 

Misses:

- I feel like there is a lot of waste of product due to it being a spray

- They say to put it on 15 minutes before sun exposure... meaning that I put it on in the bathroom making sure that I put towels down on the floor because if I didn't.... Someone being me or my significant other would be a victim of the Darwin Awards

 

 

Neal's Yard Remedies Rehydrating Rose Daily Moisturizer:

 

-softens and replenishes

-for normal and dehydrated skin

-hydrating 'Hundred Petalled' rose extract and damask rose oil soften, smooth and help restore skin's natural radiance

-easily absorbed

-antioxidant rich

*95% Organic

Loves:

- I love the way this moisturizer feels

- Love the moisture it provides for my skin

- Helps with the radiance in my sometimes dull and dry skin

- My makeup works well with it

-The formula is beautiful

* If you don't like the scent of Roses or Rose Water... you may not enjoy this, but the fragrance doesn't last long*

 

 

Freeman Charcoal and Black Sugar Polishing Mask:

 

*Dual-Action Purifying Mask

*Double Detox

*Charcoal absorbs oil without drying out skin

*Black Sugar Exfoliates

 

Loves:

- The scent is yummy and unisex

-The warming sensation is awesome

- Makes my skin look and feel amazing

- It's a multitasking mask

 

Misses:

- I just wish that it went on like a full mask....

I like to look like I painted myself like Krippendorfs Tribe when I put a mask on

 

Tarte 12hr - Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Foundation SPF 15:

 

-oil free

-buildable coverage

-satin-matte finish

-improves skin clarity and texture

-vegan friendly

*Vitamin A - retains moisture and protects against free radical damage

*Vitamin E - natural preservative, anti-inflammatory, emollient and antioxidant

*Amazonian Clay- for long wear

 

Loves:

- Like the scent

-Love the coverage - it's buildable

- Love the packaging because it's a squeeze tube and it has a side window to show how much product is left.

- Highly Pigmented

 

 

Tarte Lights, Cameras, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara:

 

-Lengthening

-Curling

-Volumizing

-Conditioning

-Dermatologist and Clinically Tested

-Vegan

*infused with olive esters to protect and nourish lashes

 

Loves:

- Formula is awesome.... it's not too wet or too dry

- Lengthens and Thickens with every coat without clumping

- Love the way the packaging feels in my hands

 

Misses:

- The packaging only because it's not practical

 

Rimmel Stay Matte Long Lasting Pressed Powder:

 

- 5 hour shine control

-Natural Minerals

 

Loves:

- I use this to set my foundation and concealer and it works so well

- Lives up to it's 5 hour shine control

- Doesn't just sit on top of my skin

 

Misses:

- The packaging it not my favorite.... I wish it had more durable packaging because when I travel my bag can sometimes take a beating and the plastic can crack

 

L'Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Crayon Concealers:

 

-multipurpose

-blend incredibly

 

Loves:

- I love these for contouring and highlighting

- Ultra Blendable

- Work well when I layer powder product on top to set them

- So easy to use

 

Misses:

- I just don't like this as concealer for me because when used in the undereye area it's very dry and creases

 

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette:

 

-Matte

-Neutral

-Silky Formulation

-Multitasker

 

*Shades:

-Venus (off white demi matte)

-Foxy (cream bisque matte)

-Walk of Shame (light nude matte)

-Naked 2 (taupe matte)

-Faint (warm, dusty brown matte)

-Crave (deep brown/black matte)

 

Loves:

-This is my ultimate Holy Grail palette

-I use it to fill in my brows

- Can do a quick and easy pinup look, smokey eye, or just a wash of color

-Silky application

-Easiest matte shadows for me to blend

-Love the packaging for travel

 

Misses:

-My packaging is peeling from constantly carrying it with me



 

Urban Decay Naked Flushed Palette in Naked:

 

-multitasker

-bronzer

-highlighter

-blush

 

Loves:

- Multitasking palette so that I don't have to keep a ton of single package products

- the bronzer, highlighter and blush work so well for my skin coloring

- I always pack this because it pairs well with the Naked Basics palette

-I can use these also as eyeshadows

-Great packaging

 

Tokyomilk/Dark- Tainted Love # 62

 

-Dark Vanilla Bean

-Orchid

-White Tea

-Sandalwood

 

This is my signature scent... I love it in the Fall especially.... My go to... I fell in love with this fragrance when I got a trial package of Tokyomilk products.... The Lip Elixers are Awesome and I really LOVE the hand creams...

 

So last year I started the Buzzfeed Rory Gilmore Book Challenge :

 

The best part of doing this book challenge is the Adventure of finding the books themselves...

I've been going to all sorts of thrift stores and finding some Awesome deals....

 

These are my January Purchases:

 

 

 

Favorite Book of January:

 

 

 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

 

#226 on the Rory Gilmore Book List

 

- This book was a quick and amazing read... I loved how each of the characters are so relatable and the sincerity and honesty.... There was also an incredible soundtrack to the book... that if you wanted to you could make a playlist and hear what he's listening to and what he loves about each song...

 

"And in that moment I swear we were infinite."

 

I've never seen the film so I didn't have any expectations on how the characters should be or looked... and I don't know if I want to see it.... 

 

 

Heather

How to Clean Your Spent Candle Containers....

 

 I used to work for a retail company that sells a lot of candles, so I got a lot of free candles and everytime there was a sale I would splurge and get 3 large candles at a time.... and my I always love to have them burning in the house.....

 

I save containers like it's the Depression Era... I inherited this trait from my Dad's Family and My Mom....

 &

If you're like me... You probably hoard candle jars too.... thinking I'll use this for something else at some point in time....

 

You probably wonder... How do I get the wax out?.... You've probably double boiled your containers realizing that you can't seem to get all of the wax out.... You've probably even spilt wax in your kitchen and had to scrape it up....

 

In this post I'm going to share with you how to clean your spent candle jars....

This is the easiest way to clean your candles vs. the Double Boil Method...

There is far less mess and less clean up....

 

Supplies:

*Spent Candles in Glass Containers

*Freezer

*Butter Knife

*Sink

*Hand-Hot Water

*Dishwasher or Hand Washing

 

 

 

Step 1: Pop all of your candle containers in the freezer.... The wax used and the oil content of the wax will effect how long your candles need to stay inside of the freezer... 

The easiest ones that I've found are the Bath and Body Works candles, Glade Candles, and Scentsational Candles....

 

Freeze Time:

5 - 24 Hours

 

 

What freezing will do to the wax is cause stress fractures... this is exactly what you want to see...

 

Step 2: You'll need a dull knife to pop out your wax...  You want to slide your knife into the cracks and the wax should pot right out....  Don't worry if some of the wick holders are stuck in the bottom that can be fixed in the next step...

 

Step 3: After your containers have gotten back down to room temperature you can fill a sink with "hand-hot" water.... This will loosen the glue from the wick holders, loosen the labels as well as any residual wax....

 

 

 

Step 4: Load your dishwasher with the pre-cleaned jars to further clean them....

 

 

*This particular container is a dw Home Candle and it does not have a regular label on it and will not remove with hot water washing....

 

Now You have your clean container!!!

 

 

The easiest candle containers that clean well with this method are:

*Bath & Body Works

*Glade

*Nice

*DW Home(Candles with Regular Labels not the embossed labels)

*Scentsational

 

 

I did a whole set of containers in a day and set them aside for my next project....

 

 

There are so many things that you can use these containers for...

*Storage and Organization

*Candles

*Drinking Glasses

etc.

 

 

 Hope This Post was Helpful to You,

 

Heather

 

P.S.  In the Comments Below, on my Instagram or my Twitter... send me your pics of what you do with your clean containers....