Favies

Here are some things I'm loving lately!

1. Trident Black Raspberry Twist gum

Mmm, so good. Like a lot of flavored gum, the flavor doesn't last very long, but it's so so good.

2. Covet Fashion

This little app is a gem. They take real life clothes and turn them into buyable game objects, and you dress your character and enter challenges and vote on looks. Not for everyone, but I play this all day every day!

3. Archer Farms Double Chocolate Chunk Granola

Mmmmm. This stuff is what's up. It's chocolatey without being too overwhelming and a whole bag lasts quite a while. I keep it at work for a snack!

4. Rachhloves

Now that I don't feel like death all day every day, I've been getting back into makeup, and this adorable lady's YouTube channel is my inspiration! I love watching her review videos because she's not a professional makeup artist, so she just gives honest, down to earth reviews of the products.

5. Jordan Smith

If you want to know my #1 biggest obsession over the last month, here he is. He's a contestant on The Voice, which I do not watch, but I looked up his audition after a friend at work was talking about him. It's been viewed over 17 million times and I probably account for at least half a million of those views! I've bought every single one of his songs on iTunes and his most recent song was #1 on iTunes for two whole days - over Adele, One Direction, and Justin Bieber's new songs! I think he is just precious and SO talented!

Ipsy Favies

I kept seeing all my friends post about Ipsy on social media and I knew I wanted to try it, but when I went to sign up, it kept asking me to bug my friends with invites to get their own Ipsy bags. I decided it wasn't worth it, so I ignored their requests, and after about four months they just started sending me the bags anyway. Emily 1, Ipsy marketing 0.

So the way Ipsy works, you take a personalized style quiz and they will send you sample sizes of products that match your style, preferences, and skin and hair tones, all for $10 a month. I've fallen in love with quite a few of these products in the last six months, but the bad part about Ipsy is that most of these products are pretty expensive to get from the store. Such struggles I have :) The bags are always really cute, and most of the products I get are things I will use a lot! (The bright purple lip gloss, not so much...) Here are some of my recent Ipsy faves!

Balancedguru Style Me Roots to Ends Hair Oil - $19.99 from balancedguru.com

This little bottle actually has quite a bit in it. I put one or two drops in my palm and work it through my damp hair, and it helps keep the frizzies at bay - not an easy task for my crazy hair!

Urban Decay Lip Gloss in Failbait - $22 at urbandecay.com

If only I used lip gloss enough to justify the price tag! The gloss was really smooth and the color was bold without being too off the wall. Loved it and I was sad when my sample ran out!

Nuxe-Reve de Miel Makeup Removing-Cleansing Gel - $19.00 at target.com

Mmm, yes. I like this stuff. It smells really good and it feels like it's exfoliating as well as removing makeup. I don't like a lot of makeup removers because my skin feels either dry or oily after using them, but this stuff makes my skin feel super clean and nice!

J. Cat Beauty Liptitude Hydrating Lip Stain in Hikilicious - $5.99 at jcatbeauty.com

This was another bold lip color for me, but I was a big fan of how easy it was to apply and how long it lasted. Given the $6 price tag, it might be worth the investment!

Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator - $34.00 at vasanticosmetics.com

These expensive sample sizes really make the $10 monthly price tag worth it for me, honestly. I can usually get 4 or 5 uses out of a sample size (at least), so when I find an expensive product I like, I try to make it last even longer :) This stuff is some good stuff. It makes my skin feel super clean and refreshed. When I use a lot of drugstore face washes, my face really doesn't feel that much cleaner than before, but this face wash really did the trick. It's definitely not a miracle product but it did make my skin look healthier and more glowy!

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Vacuum Cleaner - $45.00 at sephora.com

Okay, the $45.00 price tag is just a little too much for this frugal gal, but this product is hands-down the best product Ipsy has sent me. You apply it like a mask and it turns blue when it's dry, which makes it really easy to wash off. It really does feel like my pores have been sucked completely dry, which sounds gross, but is surprisingly pleasant. I am a little mad at Ipsy for getting me hooked on such an expensive product, not going to lie. I may just bite the bullet and buy it for myself as a present because that's how much I love it.

Recent Faves

1. Modern Family

Okay, I used to despise this show. I thought it was cliche, over the top, and just not funny at all. Then, out of nowhere, a switch flipped and now I am obsessed with this show. Husband has been watching it from season one with me, and he's not into binge-watching shows like I am, which is the only reason I haven't watched all the seasons in a month.

2. Fudge Brownie Goldfish

A coworker tipped me off to these and I'm obsessed. They're so deliciously chocolatey but with just a bit of salt added to balance the flavor. I just wish the little bag wasn't so expensive!

3. Down the Mountain

This app was in the top charts in the app store, so I downloaded it, and 1016 games later, I can't stop playing. 

4. Dollar Tree Hauls

I stumbled across these sorts of videos after I started making my thrift haul videos, and now I make these too! I was never a big fan of Dollar Tree {okay, I thought it was all cheap crap!} but I have Seen The Light!

5. 1010

Husband calls this the cheating version of Tetris. I call it fun. 

June Favies

I haven't done a favorites post in too, too long! Here are some things I was loving in the month of June:

1. The Office

Okay, I've always loved it, but I've been rewatching it on Netflix and it is still. so. funny.

2. Kids Clif Brownie Bars

My mom knows the way to my heart is through chocolate, and I am always annoyed that "adult" breakfast bars are chocolate with something nasty, so she got me these. I don't want your chocolate with orange bars or your dark chocolate anything, just give me some plain ol chocolate. So these kids breakfast bars are right up my alley. Super delicious {take that, nasty grownup bars!} and only 130 calories per bar!

3. Shark Week

Okay y'all, there is nothing better than Shark Week. There's just not. I DVR all the shows so I can stretch it out to be Shark Month in the band life house.

4. Honey Maid Go Bites

These are SO delicious and just a handful fills me up! They're the right balance of sweet and salty, so I don't feel like I'm overindulging.

5. Coloring

The local paper ran an article on the rising popularity of coloring books for adults, and I am right on board this coloring train. I went over to Barnes and Noble the very next day and picked me up three books of my own! I've loved coloring for ages and ages and these are right up my alley!

More Favorites

Here are more things I am loving lately!

1. The Ellen Show

I absolutely love Ellen Degeneres and everything she stands for. I DVR her show every day! She is so funny and generous and kind and it inspires me to be a better person. 

2. Interrupted

This book by Christian author Jen Hatmaker completely changed my way of thinking about how I live my life. It is inspirational and convicting, and I only made it through two chapters before grabbing a pen and highlighting my favorite passages! As soon as I finished, I left it on my dresser rather than shelving it away with my other books because I know I will want to read it over and over. I highly recommend this book for anyone unsure about their faith.

3. Shopkick

A coworker tipped me off to this app and I am addicted! You download the app and use it to scan certain products at certain stores. It's like a scavenger hunt! You use the points for products or gift cards, and I'm currently saving for a Coach bag :) I'm definitely that weirdo wandering around Target looking for a certain dishwasher detergent or bag of pretzels, scanning the barcode, and wandering off. Oh well. When I get my Coach bag, I'll be the winner!

4. Looney Tunes Dash!

This app is similar to Temple Run (remember that?) except it's more fun because you're playing as a Looney Tunes character. Plus this game gives you seven lives instead of the standard five! I'm pretty sure this game is marketed towards kids or teenagers, but I definitely play every day.

5. America's Got Talent

I am allll about this show!! The first episode of the season premiered this week, and I encourage you to check it out if you've never watched it. It's a family-friendly show and, in my opinion, more entertaining than American Idol or So You Think You Can Dance because the acts are varied and it's not just a solid hour of only singing or only dancing.

Netflix Docs {Part 2}

Here are five more of my favorite Netflix documentaries!

1. The Price of Gold

This documentary is about the Nancy Kerrigan/Tonya Harding drama where Harding was accused of injuring Kerrigan in order to ensure her own gold medal performance in the 1992 Olympics. This was a completely riveting drama that did not actually feature Nancy Kerrigan. Tonya Harding had a whole ton of crazy and it all comes out in this documentary. 

2. Crazy Love

Okay, I really don't want to give away spoilers but this story is CRAZY. This documentary is a little slower-paced than some of my other favorites but the story is so compelling that you don't want to turn it off. 

3. Imposter

Basically, this kid went missing and a random guy pretended to be the missing kid who turned up years later, fooling the actual missing kid's family and friends until the FBI got involved. 

4. Hotline

This one goes behind the scenes of various telephone hotlines, like suicide hotlines and teen help hotlines. It's really interesting to see what the volunteers go through just by trying to help those in need. 

5. Love Me

A documentary about American men trying to find Russian mail-order brides. My favorite part features a Ukranian woman who moved to Australia with her husband and now has a Ukranian-Australian accent. CRAZY. 

Netflix Docs

I’ve gotten really hooked on Netflix true crime stories and documentaries lately. Here are my top five documentaries recently!

1.       First Position

This documentary is my absolute favorite and I could watch it over and over. It follows students throughout their ballet careers and all of the rigors that come along with it. The dancing is so lovely and it’s a really interesting look into the world of ballet.

2.       The Woman Who Wasn’t There

This one is a close second. This lady pretended to be a 9/11 survivor for six years and helped found a 9/11 survivor group. Once a major news station started digging into her story, they found that she had lied about everything, including her name and occupation.

3.       Tallhotblond

This is a really interesting story of catfishing gone very wrong. There are a lot of connections that are woven within each other and the ending isn’t one you’d expect.

4.       I Know That Voice

This is a fun documentary that looks at the voice actors that have provided the voice of so many popular cartoon characters. I really enjoyed the interviews with actors who’ve voiced dozens of characters. Watching them switch from character to character without skipping a beat is amazing!

5.       The Waiting Room

I found this documentary to be a little too long, but it was still interesting. It goes inside the waiting room of an inner-city ER and really sheds a light on all of the problems with our medical system.

Happy Things

Sometimes when life isn't the best, it's all about the little things that make a girl happy. Here are some of my happy things lately!

My number one happy thing recently is Bethany Mota's perfume. She has a whole clothing line at Aeropostale, but I am having a quarter life crisis and can acknowledge that I am too old for crop tops and mini skirts. However, I am in love with her perfume, and I've never gotten so many compliments on a fragrance! Bethany describes it as "cotton candy, peaches, bergamot, and vanilla sugar, with a smooth, musky finish". I have never in my life bought a fragrance with vanilla or cotton candy in it, but I cannot get enough of this scent! Sometimes if I catch a whiff of the perfume during my work day, I get happy all over again :)

My next happy thing is a book I just finished called An Amish Buggy Ride by Sarah Price. I love all things Amish {and am impatiently waiting for the next season of "Breaking Amish" to premiere...} and this book was a really fast read that really made me feel like I was in the Amish culture. It's a sweet little love story with a message on the importance of forgiveness and perfect for anyone looking for what I call a "fluff" book. 

I've always loved the music from Beauty and the Beast, but I have been obsessed with the song "Belle" lately. I bought it on iTunes after using all my data playing it on YouTube on my phone when I was driving anywhere because my CD has mysteriously gone missing. Tragic. It's an amazing song with so many layers and a huge finale. I try to sing all the parts at once, pretty unsuccessfully, and husband is not amused when I try. Haters gonna hate.

I am super picky about Chapstick. I don't like mint or anything that tastes like food, so I usually stick to just plain old original Chapstick. My mom put this Softlips thing in my Christmas stocking and I am in love. She got me the blueberry pomegranate flavor, and as I am a huge fan of tropical fruits, I highly appreciate this flavor combination. It keeps my lips soft all day long and doesn't flake off or dry my skin out after a few hours. 

I'm not sure if I blogged about this last summer, but a coworker tipped me off to the fact that you can get other flavors of limeade at Sonic, not just cherry. Specifically, he got me hooked on mango limeades. When husband and I were looking at houses last year, we would stop at Sonic during happy hour to get half-price drinks and I started mixing it up a little. My favorites included peach mango, mango raspberry, peach raspberry, and mango blackberry, but my all-time favorite is still my usual mango limeade. The sweetness of the mango balances out the lime without being sickly sweet, the way cherries are. I could honestly drink one of these every day, and it's my mission to convert as many people from cherry limeades to mango limeades as I can.

Favorite YouTube Channels

I must confess: I didn't really "get" the appeal of YouTube until last year. I would look up a song or cute video, but didn't know how people could spend hours watching video after video. 

I have seen the light!

I can now click from video to video and completely lose track of time, just like the kids do! Snaps for Emily for becoming a more efficient time-waster. With that said, here are some of my very favorite channels!

Jenna Marbles

Okay, I am fully aware that Jenna is not for everyone. She's a little crude, has a tendency to curse like a sailor, and isn't afraid to call people out. But I think she is hilarious and although I'm not a fan of some of her more recent videos (yawn), her classic videos make me laugh every time. 

Bethany Mota

First off, I know she's like 18 and I am 26 and so I should not like or care about this person that is apparently very famous but that I have only just discovered in the last month. That being said, I cannot stop watching her videos. She is absolutely adorable, endlessly perky, and while I can't really benefit from her "how to decorate your locker" or "cute first day of school outfits" videos, I still like watching her stuff. Like I said, I haven't followed her for long, but I get the sense that the more famous she's becoming (she has a clothing line at Aeropostale and was on Dancing With the Stars), the fewer videos she's posting. I like watching her older videos and I hope she doesn't get caught up in fame and neglect her YouTube channel!

SoCraftastic

Definitely my favorite craft channel! I love watching craft videos and this girl is darn talented. She's a little awkward in front of the camera, but I love watching her craft! It's especially fun since I'm not particularly good at most crafts, and I don't like spending $20 or more on craft supplies, only for it to turn out awful, so watching someone else do a craft successfully is fun for me.

Threadbanger

Run by husband and wife team Rob and Corinne, Threadbanger is the channel responsible for Man vs. Pin, where an average guy tries his hand at popular Pinterest pins. They also do successful Pinterest crafts, DIYs, and recipes!

FunToyzCollector

This channel used to be called DC Toys Collector... not sure why the name change, but I'll roll with it. Ellen talked on her show about the strange phenomenon of people unwrapping toys on YouTube, and I am mesmerized by this lady. She has such a soft voice and she is darn good at Play-Doh. I like to put this one on when I'm falling asleep. No judgment here, right...?

Zoella

She's like a super adorable, more mature, British version of Bethany Mota. She does haul videos as well as beauty and makeup videos, and I cannot get enough of her. She's so precious! I want to be friends with Zoella and her mermaid hair.

So those are just a few of my favorite YouTube channels - definitely the ones I watch on a regular basis! Especially with being so sick all the time... I don't have have the energy to do hardly anything and I rarely leave the house except to go to work, so I watch a lot of YouTube in bed. It's quite nice, if we're being honest, but not really socially acceptable. I'm okay with that.

Fun Faves

Here are some things I've been loving over the last month!

1. Serial

I discovered this podcast a few weeks ago and listened to every episode in about a week. I love whodunnit stories! Definitely go give it a listen if you haven't already. I can't wait for season two!

2. Man v. Pin

I found this one when I was battling a horrendous flu a couple of weeks back (I think that's my fifth time having the flu this winter...) and I watched all of his videos in one bad, bed-ridden day. They're both informative and hilarious! Click here to watch!

3. Chocolate Toast Crunch

Okay, I love me some Cinnamon Toast Crunch, but things can only get better when you add chocolate, right? I've eaten two boxes already...

4. Orange is the New Black

Husband and I started watching this randomly and we are addicted. We watched the whole first season in less than two weeks, which is really saying something, considering how little he is home and how much homework I've had! It's a Netflix-only show and it's definitely for mature audiences only, so if you can handle those two things, give it a try!

5. Ghost

The Ella Henderson song, not the Patrick Swayze movie, although that is a good flick. I bought the song on iTunes pretty quickly after it hit the radio waves and I've had it on repeat quiiiite a bit lately.