March Ipsy Bag

I got my March Ipsy bag! I'm happy about this one! 

It came in a floral bag which I love anything floral. Much better than last months bag!

Sample size: Pūr-lisse - pūr-delicate gentle soymilk cleanser and makeup remover.

Sample size: Leeani Eco - 3 in 1 revolution light (moisturizer) 

Full size-ish: Pixi by Petra - Mesmerizing Mineral duo in Apricot Glow

Full size: NYX Cosmetics - Butter Lipstick in Little Susie

Full size: Crown Brush - infinity shadow/crease duet brush 

   Ok let's start with the only thing I did not like from this months bag. The moisturizer. I wouldn't describe my skin as sensitive but when it comes to moisturizers, for whatever reason, my skin is really sensitive. This moisturizer like most moisturizers made my face turn red and made the uneven parts of my complexion more noticeable. This is something that happens from time to time with moisturizers and my skin, so I wasn't surprised. 

   The face wash/makeup remover was fine. It worked and removed my makeup. Nothing fabulous but did its job. Ill use it until its done but it didn't give me and further interest in the brand of product.

   On to the really good stuff. I have two other NYX butter lipsticks so I was excited to see I was getting another one. I love how these lipsticks feel. They don't have great longevity but it feels more like a chapstick than a lipstick, so I'm ok with that. I love the color I got, it's very spring. I can see myself wearing this often this season. Not to mention Essie Button from youtube (channel here) used the color I got in her recent 'No Makeup' tutorial video. I love her videos and her blog (found here)

  I'm am loving the eyeshadow duo. The lighter shade is a perfect everyday color. Both colors are so pretty on. 

  Last but not least the brush. I am in looove with this brush. Both ends are fantastic. One end is a great eyeshadow brush staple. It's wide and dense great for all over application or crease. The other end is my favorite. It's like a combination of a small angled brush and a pencil brush. So great, not to mention awesome quality. 

Here is the look I put together. I went for a simple bronzey spring look. 

Other than the moisturizer I loved this months bag! If you are thinking about getting monthly Ipsy bags let me know! If you already do let me know your thoughts on your bag. 

If you want to see someone else use some of these products (and coincidentally did a very similar makeup look) and who usually does a makeup look once month with Ipsy products check out Ingrid Nilsen!

Very Inspiring Blogger Award!

I was nominated by  for the "Very Inspiring Blogger award" by Runt's Pickins! It's so awesome and so kind!

So here are the rules:

Thank the blogger who nominated you. 

Ive known this lovely lady for a long time now. And I appreciate her not only reading, but also nominating me for this. It means so much, thank you!! 

List the rules and display the award. (Done)

Share seven facts about yourself. 

1. I am Filipino, Irish, and German and proud of it. 

2. I prefer some kind of potatoe chips on my sandwich 

3. I have a bachelors degree in interior design

4. I now work as a PR manager 

5. I've never broken a bone 

6. I love potatoes. Baked, mashed, fries you name it I love it. 

7. I spent a summer in NYC attending acting school

Nominate other amazing blogs and comment on their blog to let them now you nominated them. 

Ok this was actually the hardest part. I wanted to nominated bloggers I actually know. I know three. But one nominated me (and if I could nominate her back I would) the other two are a little inactive lately. So maybe if I nominate them they will get back to it or blog more! Also Im realizing I need to read more not so popular blogs. 

First, Design Prep because Jamie is talented, kind, and intelligent. Three things that make a great designer. 

Second, All Kinds of Kinds because Teaya is one of my most inspiring friends in general. She's uplifting and kind and so is her blog. I wish she would

One popular blog Id like to nominate is SimplyTaralyn. I've been reading and following this blog way way before I started my own. She is motivating and inspiring. We even live in the same city now! 

Flashback Friday

Welcome to another installment of flashback friday. It's been a little bit, we have plenty to catch up on. I have a few post that need to be written/ready to post but I thought I should catch up with a flash back Friday first.

Me and Joseph went to go she Lights. This is my second time seeing her live. I love her. 

Then went to Jack Beagles where I swear they have the best mac and cheese in the world. I love that place.

I have been busy with work making plans and preparing for things to come. We worked there worlds largest St Patricks day pub crawl, which I later attended. 

A sea of green. This years record 21,137 crawlers. No video this year since it was more work than play. But if you want to see last years video you can find it here!

The pub crawl was the weekend before St Patrick's day. On the actual holiday we had some friends over and I made Irish food like I always do. I made corned beef, potatoes, and cabbage per usual but this year I also made Irish soda bread and a dessert! Go me! 

One of my good friends turned 21 and I had some great karaoke videos I had every intention on saving but I forgot and let snapchat eat it. Too bad too there was a great rendition of Maroon 5's Sugar with birthday boy and friends.  

Those are the highlights! I got my Ipsy bag I'm going to share that and a look I created. I also got nominated for a Very Inspiring Blogger award! I also have a couple beauty posts Im working on so that's all to come! I hope your last couple weeks have been wonderful, talk to you next time.

Love is Easy

Dear Mocha, 

I want to talk to you about relationships. People say love is hard, they may even say love is a battle field. (Please tell me you got that reference.) but I completely disagree. People are difficult. Love is easy, relationships are hard. My hope for you, is to know when it's too hard.  I hope you can recognize when it's not enough or when you deserve more or better. It's not always easy to recognize this especially because love is easy. I've been there. I know what it's like to fight for love when it's time to let go. I may think that love is easy but I do know love can make you do stupid things. I just want you to know that you should never let someone make you feel like you need to be someone else. Never let some stifle your creativity or expression of who you are. Regardless if you are Mocha or anyone else reading this you are unique and beautiful. You deserve to be loved with respect and admiration. And just remember I love you and I will always be here, for those times when love just doesn't seem so easy. 

Friday Flash Back

So there are a couple of bloggers and vloggers that do a week recap type thing. I'd like to do something similar, like a flash back Friday of what happened during my week. I've wanted to do this for awhile but I got nervous that I wouldn't always have something to say or show on Friday. But in reality I take a lot of random pictures and videos that don't get shared anywhere and at minimum I always find share worthy things on the Internet. What this all really boils down to is me wanting to blog more. Who knows if this will last or how long it will but it's here

Friday flashback 

Last weekend we went to Science on the Rocks. I made a video about the last one we went to, you can check it out here. The children's science museum here has a once a month adult night. Adults can explore the museum and play with adult beverages in hand. Each month has a theme this month was illusions. It is becoming increasingly popular because it was crowded but still so much fun. 

These boxes look like something out of transforms just with a little projection and light play. 

This bubble guys was way too entertaining. This is his career. He blows bubbles. I think he did something right. 

They had a fun little photoboth so me and Joseph were our usual selves. 

My week other than work has been me playing sims, watching Netflix, and working on this blog. Yesterday it snowed. So having an excuse to not leave the house all day helped with productivity.

Speaking of working on the blog I changed some things around! There's a new better banner and a new background and some new colors. If you're on mobile you can only really see the new banner of you wanna see the whole shebang scroll down to the bottom and click "view web version". Also check out those snazzy buttons on the side with links to my social media things! Yay Ahteablog! 

I also did my First ipsy bag post and I also listed some chokers I made on my Etsy! Check 'Em out here! 

So how was it the first Friday Flash back? I'm surprised I had more to say than I thought. Hate it? love it? 

My First Ipsy Bag

Hey guys! 

I finally joined ipsy annnnd I finally got my first bag! I decided that Im going to review the things I get and also do a look based on the items I got.

So first things first what I got!

It came in a pink, grey, and white geometric pattern little bag and its ok.. Im only saying ok because Ive seen a lot of ipsy reviews and posts. I needed to make sure this was worth getting! So Ive seen a lot of the bags and this just wasn't as awesome as some other ones Ive seen. But free cute little bag every time, the part of me that likes to compartmentalize everything is screaming with joy.
Lets move onto the more important part the contents (drum-roll please)

Sample size lip gloss from Cargo cosmetics in the color Anguilla
Sample size Up All Night Volumizing Spray from Eva-Nye 
Full size Eyeliner pencil from Me in in Amethyst
Full size blush from Model in Peach Bellini
Full size Large Angled brush from Luxie

Ok lets talk about it. I love everything except the eyeliner and the lip gloss. When I did my makeup look today I liked the lip gloss a bit more then when I originally tried it. Its not a color I would normally go for. The eyeliner is just not the best. It does not apply very evenly. To get the most out of it I used it on its side with little pressure and built it up.

Though Im not a huge fan of the eyeliner I did like the color. Colored eyeliner pencils remind me of the early 2000's when I really started using and experimenting with makeup. I was such a fun of having a pop of color with my eyeliner under my eye. So today's look is brought to you by Ipsy and me 12 years ago.

I used the eye liner under my eyes which I liked. I used the blush on my checks with the brush I got. I used the lipgloss over my lipstick which is much nicer than the lipgloss on its own. 

I loooove the volumizing hair spray. With my current hair style I've been wanted more volume and texture to my hair. I love that it gives my hair that "showered last night just rolled out bed with this hair" look and stays that way.  

True to the early 2000s makeup I was rocking, I used at tinted moisturizer with a little Bare Minerals over. I'm so used to full coverage makeup it was kinda nice to let my skin breathe and show my freckles. I used some of my 2000s staples 

The gold color is Goldleaf by Bare Minerals I used this on my lid and as a highlight with my new brush. I used to do this all the time I used Goldleaf for EVERYTHING. Instead of eyeliner I would use French Navy by Bare Minerals and an little angled brush. I might start doing this again I really like how it made my eyes look. Last is a bronzer/highlighter from Physicians Formula. I used this as obviously bronzer and highlight but I also used it as eyeshadow. I also went very natural with my brows, just a tinted brow gel. Back in the day all I did was over pluck my brows haha.

This was fun! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!  

It Builds Character

Dear Mocha

 

Something my dad always says is "it builds character" and I mean always. He says it when it when it's appropriate to say it and inappropriate. It doesn't always make sense, which makes it funny. 

However, inspired from a few recent events, where people I know are put in unfavorable situations, I've found myself thinking It builds character. (Thanks dad) So what does this saying actually mean. When you go through anything tough or emotional, when you get through it and get to the other side you've learned from it. You've grown through your experience. You've built character. What's character? It's the mental and moral qualities distinctive to who you are. When I tell someone about a bad thing that happened to me I always say don't feel sorry it's made me who I am. Whether it be thicker skin, better knowledge about handling things, or even learning about myself, unfavorable times have built character. So my advice to you is, let it. No matter what you are going through don't drag yourself down because of it. Get through to the other side and get there a better person. 

Something to also keep in mind. How you react to bad situations shows your character. Remember what ever it is you'll get through it. Don't let your emotions and anger get the best of you and have all the "character building" situations be in vain because you lost your cool. Be strong It builds character.