Mini Photo-shoot in the snow!

It snowed!

Whenever it gets cold enough to actually leave snow on the ground I know it will only stick around for a day or two. So I took the opportunity to get out to the park while it looked so pretty, to play around with my camera and take a few self-portrait shots.

Straightened my hair, threw on some makeup (which then smudged like crazy when my eyes watered from the cold, note to self - use waterproof eyeliner next time...), threw on layers upon layers and took off to find a nice little scenic spot.

I've been taking a small online photography course and have learned a whole lot. This was a fun, quick little shoot to practice. (It was WAY to cold to stay out for long). I'm really happy with the pictures. :) Now I just need to find someone else to take pictures of for more practice.

 

January Favorites!

Yes, yes, I know it's February... But I figured it's only been a few days and I could still get away with this.

This is one of my favorite type of posts on other peoples blogs so I wanted to do my own version and hopefully continue it as a regular feature.

I feel as though I may have gotten a little too excited and picked a few too many things. 

Let's start with beauty products.

I really couldn't choose which of these four items I loved the most. First is the "Vanilla Bean Noel" body wash from Bath & Body works. I absolutely love vanilla scented things and every time I use this I almost want to eat it, it just smells divine. The next bath product is also from Bath & Body Works. The "Stress Relief, eucalyptus & spearmint" body wash & foam bath. This is the perfect thing for days when I am feeling run down. I run a hot bath, pour this in and lie contently in the bubbles, reading or watching youtube videos.

The next two things are facial products. "Yes To Carrots Nourishing, Repairing Night Cream". I have really sensitive skin and some ingredients in your usual run-of-the-mill products make my skin react. So I tend to lean towards products that are paraben-free and have more natural ingredients. This cream is just so silky smooth and a pleasure to use. I put it on in the evenings before bed and wake up with my skin feeling great. The next product is something I've never used before. The Body Shop "Vitamin E Eye Cream". I don't have anything to compare it to, but I love it. I have noticed a slight improvement, but haven't used it religiously enough to say for sure whether it works or not.

Onto Makeup!

1. Smashbox "Wondervision Mega Palette".

This was a Christmas present to myself. I have wanted a palette to play with for awhile. I picked this one because of the wide range of colors. It has a bit of everything, perfect for the beginner like me. I've had a lot of fun sampling and playing around with them all. I might do a full review of this palette in future post.

2. My favorite lip colors for the month were: 

"Lasting Finish by Kate" in 01, which is a deep red and more of a matte finish than shiny, which I love.

&

Cover Girl Lip color in 310 "smitten". A slightly plum shade for those days I'm feeling a little more brave.

3. Nail Polish!

Sally Hansen Insta-dri Nail color in 350 "Wined Up" - A deep red shimmery shade. It reminds me of the deep red berries that grow in winter time.

Sally Hansen "Big Matte, Top Coat" - I love this, I really do. Awesome matte effect top coat on any polish. I talked about it more in this post here.

The final thing in my favorites list is a book: "Humans of New York" by Brandon Stanton.

If you haven't heard of Humans of New York I suggest you check it out immediately. What started as a blog is now a book full of hundreds of gorgeous portraits accompanied by quotes and stories that give you a glimpse into the lives of others. I could just browse the pages of this book for hours. 

 And that's it for this month! I hope you enjoyed it, and I didn't ramble on for too long. I tend to get long winded when talking about things that I love. What was your favorite thing over the last month? Let me know in the comments.