♥ Breaking Hearts, Breaking Chains: Paris ♥ removes 'love locks'

 

"Breaking Hearts, Breaking Chains: Paris removes 'love locks'"

That was the heading for the article that caught my eye trending on Facebook. After reading it, my heart was truly broken. Thankfully, not because I had missed the opportunity of seeing it for myself. In summer 2014 if it hadn't been for the first night I had done something adventurous in my boring life, I would have been among those wishing I could have seen it as well. 

Traveling to Europe will always be an exciting time for anyone who hasn't been before, but it was even more of a thrill because I was given the opportunity to share it with my best friends and sister. We went to England, France, Italy and the Vatican City. My best friend Sydney and I promised one another to not waste any chance we got to go exploring, even if it included having to sneak out leaving our group behind. It all sounds so romanticized; sneaking out in Paris! And that's exactly what it was. 

After a long day of visiting Versailles, taking a night tour of Paris, going up into the sparkling eiffel tower after eating Nutella crepes, Sydney and I wanted more. When everyone fell asleep that night we went back and forth thinking about doing it or not. Going in the middle of the night to get to the Lock Bridge. (You might be wondering, what is there to doubt? Well we all have watched Taken, haven't we?) Anyways, my whole life I have been the type to let opportunities go by. I have never partied, never gotten wasted, never even snuck out of my own house. And here I am in a foreign country, not knowing the area, nor the language and deliberating whether or not to go all over the city.  But there was a voice in my head telling me to just do it. It was Paris, the city I've been dreaming about, the once in a lifetime opportunity awaiting right outside those french windows, that beautiful glittering night just calling my name. So I did it. 

Leaving the hotel and walking through the empty alley ways trying to find a main road with Sydney so we could get a cab took us over an hour. When we finally found one, after passing by numerous drunk men we knew the night was going to be amazing. Once we got in, Sydney asked the driver if he could take us to the Lock Bridge. Not understanding an ounce of english he did not know what we were trying to say. That was when we realized that we were being typical tourists not even knowing the proper name for where we wanted to go!  So I fumbled around, got out the map and pointed to the bridge looking icon. Thats when he said it, PONT DES ARTS, and he made us repeat it too. 

We were dropped off at the bottom of the bridge, right in front of the River Seine. It was a peaceful, still and serene night. Seemed straight out of a movie. We hurried up the steps and there it was. The most gorgeous, artistic, and glittering bridge I have ever laid my eyes on. We took pictures right away (like the typical tourists we were) then crouched down and read as many locks as we could. Our way back to the hotel took even longer than it did to get there. But it was, in fact, the night of a lifetime. After we left the bridge we took a long walk along the River and passed beautiful long boats covered in twinkling lights. Looking back it seems like a dream.

Now that i've gotten the news that it is being torn down, it feels like a piece of my adventure is going to disappear as well. All I have now are my own memories and photos of the experience. I don't want to be cheesy and say that people need to take advantage of their opportunities before it is too late. But I can't help but feel bad for those who missed out on seeing this iconic location, including those who were on the trip with us. In the blink of an eye anything can change. So if you want to travel somewhere, see someplace, or do something, just go for it. Just do it, before the opportunity & time runs out. ♥

Everyday Summer Makeup!

Real Techniques Stippling Brush    |     e.l.f. small stippling brush     |       Sephora setting powder brush #53

Lioele Water Drop BB Cream

Revlon PhotoReady Insta-Fix Makeup in Rich Ginger

e.l.f. Studio Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder 

MAC Blush in Trace Gold

Too Faced Natural Eye Palette

Inglot AMC Lip Pencil Matte #17

MAC Lipstick in Velvet Teddy

Since its summer, I thought I would share my go-to makeup look. It isn't completely natural or dramatic but its a nice in-between. 

Foundation & Concealer

I start off with a BB Cream and apply it with the Real Techniques Stippling Brush. Because it is warmer out, foundation seems a bit much. BB Cream has a lighter consistency but coverage as good as foundation. I honestly cannot remember the last time I even used a proper foundation. 

After that, I apply the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer Stick in the shade "Light" under my eyes in a triangle shape, down the bridge of my nose and on the sides of my mouth. 

Bronzer & Blush

Next, I move onto contouring. Even though my skin tone is in between Light and Medium, I always bronze my face to give it extra definition. I cannot stress how important contouring is when doing face makeup, in my opinion that's what separates a makeup newbie from someone with experience. In this look I used the Revlon PhotoReady Insta-Fix Makeup in Rich Ginger on the sides of my nose, in the hollows of my cheeks, and on my jawline. Then I blended it all out with the e.l.f. small stippling brush. I then go over it taking the Sephora Powder Brush and the e.l.f. Bronzing powder in the duo. I do that because it gives the look a flawless finish and makes it easy on me if I get too lazy blending the cream stick bronzer. 

For blush, I apply Trace Gold by MAC on my cheeks. It is by far my all-time FAVORITE blush. I love how I don't need to try with it. I don't have to worry about getting too much product on my face because it is so buildable. Even though there is not much of a color pigment there, it has "traces" of gold when the light hits it and makes you look glowy.  Everyone needs to have this product. It is perfect for the summertime (no, any time). 

Eyes

I prime my eyes using the NARS Smudge-Proof Eyeshadow Base, it is quite pricey at $24 but it has lasted me over 2 years. Then using the Too Faced Palette I mix the colors "Heaven" and "Silk Teddy" for all over my lid, "Velvet Revolver" for my crease, and then "Sexspresso" for the outer corner of my lid. I've recently started taking the darkest eyeshadow shade and I use it to line my bottom lashes. 

Then, I use the Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner for my upper lashes and tight line. I like that it is a felt tip liner with an extremely fine point. It makes it SO much easier for a person like me to apply eyeliner. I absolutely suck at it. My eyeliner never looks the same on a day-to-day basis. Then I use any black pencil liner on my waterline. 

I also use Anastasia's Clear Brow Gel. Since I have naturally thick and dark lashes I do not fill them in at all (psh, like I need to add another step to my makeup).

Lips

Lastly, I use my two most favorite lip products. They seriously should be sold together because this lip combo is perfect! Velvet Teddy by MAC and then the Inglot Matte Lip Pencil makes it look like i've tried so hard with my lips when actually I spend the least amount of time on them. If i could pick one makeup product to wear everyday forever, it would definitely be the lip pencil. I would give up a limb for it. Seriously. YOU HAVE TO GET IT. It's a hidden gem in the makeup world. 

If you have any requests, questions, or comments please feel free to let me know.

 Thank you for reading! 

The Girl on the Train

What better a way to start off this blog than talking about my true hobby, reading. After going back and forth, thinking long and hard about what my first post should be about I chose to discuss what i'm currently reading. Even though I haven't completed the novel yet, I am far enough into it to share some thoughts. 

As soon as I flipped through the first couple pages of the book, I noticed that each chapter was narrated by a different woman. Typically I do not enjoy books that are formatted this way since they tend to confuse the shit out of me. But I decided to give it a chance regardless. The main character, Rachel, is a HOT MESS. She has no control of her life anymore, she's a drunk, and way too nosey to be considered normal (she gets a bit irritating). Next, there's Megan who is living two different lives. She's artsy, independent, and dissatisfied with basically everything. Lastly, Anna has the most ideal life, with the perfect husband and baby; living in a beautiful house right down the street from Megan. Her chapters are my favorite to read, even though she may not be everyone's favorite in the book (mostly because she isn't constantly nagging and complaining about everything). 

As different as these women seem, their lives all intertwine together at some point and then it gets fast-paced. It's pretty ironic that I started reading this book on my way to NYC on a train. I was expecting a lot right from the beginning with "The Girl on the Train." So far the storyline is interesting enough for me to keep reading, but it's not a page-turner yet. I have a feeling it picks up towards the end, but by then I lose the enthusiasm I have when I first start reading a new book. But this really reminds me of "Gone Girl." The author's writing style and storyline of the book has me connecting the two together. All I can say is that if you liked "Gone Girl" then you will definitely enjoy "The Girl on the Train." 

I just wanted to give a little glance on the book and not write out a huge summary with spoilers. Since I work at Barnes & Noble, hopefully I can read more books that you suggest and get better at this mini book review thing. If you enjoyed this please leave a comment letting me know if I should write more posts about what i'm reading, if I need to change or add anything. I'd love that. Thanks for reading!  

Haircut!

Welcome to my blog!

I know it all looks either too simple (or ratchet) right now,

 but its going to grow & be just as successful as the rest of them. 

Well that depends on how much effort I put into this. 

For now its just crossing my fingers, wishing myself good luck & figuring it out on my own. 

Keep reading, there are big things ahead.