Favorite Quotes

I love taking a look at inspirational-type quotes, or just any sort of quote really, whether they be historical, current, etc.  I just love them.  They can be a great pick me up during the day, and make for some great backgrounds for phones and computers, and just great little pieces of décor.  Here is a very small sample of some of my favorites.

You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.

-Winston Churchill

Just go up to somebody on the street and say 'You're it!' and then run away.

-Ellen DeGeneres

The more you like yourself, the less you are like anyone else, which makes you unique.

-Walt Disney

It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might has well not have lived at all, in which case you have failed by default.

-J. K. Rowling

Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.

-Dr. Suess

Want to see more of most-loved quotes?  Check out my Pinterest board dedicated to quotes!

http://www.pinterest.com/allisonlag/quotes/

What are some of your favorite quotes?  Leave them for me in the comments below!

Until next time, Happy Reading,

Allison

My Makeup Essentials

Being a makeup junkie means I’ve definitely accumulated quite the makeup stash over the years, particularly over the past two years since I’ve really gotten into makeup and collecting it.  Even though I have a large amount of product, I definitely have those ‘essentials,’ that I’ve found myself gravitating towards more recently, and I thought I’d share them with you all today.

Babylips Dr. Rescue “Too Cool”

This product has been a major life save this past winter since I’ve discovered it/since it was released.  It does have some menthol in it, which I think is why it has been so healing for ultra chapped and dried out lips.

http://amzn.to/1gH5s3Y

Smashbox PhotoFinish Primer Light

This primer definitely beats out any others that I’ve tried out.  It’s very light on the skin- there is a regular formula, but I use the “Light” for acne-prone, oily skin.  It works incredibly well, and holds my foundation and face makeup in place all day long, and when paired with my De-Slick setting spray, can work miracles!

http://amzn.to/1gH5QiU

Bobbi Brown Foundation SPF 15

My new favorite foundation, this is probably one of the best foundations I’ve ever used.  It’s extremely light-weight on the skin, but provides a great, heavy coverage that has an amazing high quality.  The only downside is the price tag, but you use so little of it with each application it is sure to last a long time.  My bottle looks as if I’ve hardly used it and I’ve had it for four months and use it almost every day of the week.

http://amzn.to/1gH5WHx

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer (for undereyes)

If you have a problem with dark or hard to conceal under eye circles, or just didn’t have a good night’s sleep the night before, definitely give this drugstore concealer a try!  There also is a brightening formulation, which I do not have, but I would like to try out next.  This makes such a difference on my skin, it’s unreal.

http://amzn.to/1ezyrbg

Tarte Amazonian Clay Concealer

This is a heavy-duty concealer that has a thick, creamy consistency.  It is super easy to work with, and the application blends well on the skin, and provides amazing coverage all day long, on almost any type of spot- scar, acne- you name it.

http://amzn.to/1gH6nBt

Milani Baked Blush “Luminoso”

I love this blush.  It is a gorgeous pink color with a slight golden hue to it that is easily buildable.  I love wearing it lightly swept it on my cheekbones for a light glow, or to build it up for a brighter glow.

http://amzn.to/1ruj9Yx

Anastasia Tinted Brow Gel “Caramel”

My favorite brow gel possible, this holds the brows in place all day, and the color tint that is in it helps add an extra dimension to the face that is perfect.  It makes doing the brows so much simpler if you don’t have the time to fill them in to the extreme- just add a swipe of the tinted gel, and there ya go!

http://amzn.to/1papxFE

CoverGirl Clump Crusher Mascara

For the longest time, and for some odd reason, I avoided trying out this product.  When I finally caved in and gave it a shot, I fell in love, and now it’s my favorite mascara, beating out all of the Maybelline varieties that I love.  I still love the others, but this is my go-to.  It comes in numerous shades, and the volume and plump it gives your lashes is incredible!

http://amzn.to/P5rRNq

NYX Slide On Glide On Eye Pencils

My current favorite eyeliners, NYX is an amazing drugstore brand that not too many people know about.  I have a feeling this will soon change now that they are sold in CVS.  If you have not tried out the brand, definitely check out these eye pencils.  They are super silky, have great application, and stay on all day without smudging.  And the color selection is just gorgeous.

http://amzn.to/1gH7EIW

Urban Decay De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray

I couldn’t wear my makeup the way I currently do without this setting spray.  It holds my ‘face’ on all day long, and keeps it looking fresh from application to removal, and that makes it a Holy Grail product for me.  If you are looking for a setting spray specifically made for oily skin, definitely check out this one.

Social Media and My Thoughts

As you all know, I’m an avid user of multiple social media sites.  You’re looking at one right now.  I’m constantly checking them in every form- whether it is on my computer, iPad, or phone.  I’m not afraid to admit it, and I know it’s a bit of an addiction. 

As much as I love using social media for a number of reasons, I know that it is important to take a break from it all and go “screen-free” every once in a while.  And I am vowing, here and now, to make more of an effort to do so.  And I hope this inspires you all to do so too.  Blogging, vlogging, and things related to promoting my work online are a huge part of my life now, but they’re not everything.  I also love reading, writing stories, and so much more.  And lately I don’t do as much of those things.  (and hey- these are experiences that I can share with you all after the fact!!!)

Let’s break it down even more.  When I joined FaceBook as a senior in High School in 2009 (I was late to the game), I wanted to connect electronically with friends that I knew I would be leaving when I went to college, but I also just wanted to be ‘cool.’  The result?  I now hardly use the site, and honestly, don’t really even like it.  Yet I stil feel the need to check it multiple times a day, just out of habit.  I mean, really, what’s the point in that?  Can someone please explain this to me?  It’s had its uses- for Program Board we had groups for committees and exec board that we used to communicate immediately, but other than that, why bother?

Twitter and Instagram I love the most currently.  But even Twitter I feel as if I have nothing worthwhile to post other than promotions for my blog.   When I post other random tweets I feel awkward.  Instagram mainly consists of dog pictures.  I’m uncomfortable with the ‘selfie phenomenon.’  Maybe if I have a really good makeup look one day I would post it, but I can’t see myself doing that on an everyday basis.  The only selfie I’ve ever posted was when I had my Sephora makeover done.  Which was special occasion, so in my mind, a ‘worthwhile’ moment.

Tumblr, to me, is a way to express my inner opinions and fandom obsessions.  It’s really my personality in a social media site.  More visual than this blog.  It’s a fun site, and I love it, but I have gone through phases with it where I don’t touch it for months. 

I definitely have a love/hate relationship with Pinterest, and now that I’ve discovered and become more involved with Luvocracy, Pinterest has fallen to the side.

There are other sites and programs that I don’t use as much, or in the social way that they were necessarily intended.  For example, I love using Spotify to listen to music, yet I don’t have my profile advertised to you guys to check out playlists that I’ve created.  I have a GoodReads account, and it was only in the past few days that I really got into it and started checking out how awesome the site can be.  I’ll have all my links down below so go check them out and follow me! 

My point in all of this is that social media is great.  It’s completely changed our generation.  The way people communicate, the way companies market products and services, just everything has evolved even in the past five years is unbelievable to me when I think about it.  But there are downsides to it.  When I’m out with friends and they’re all glued to their phones when I’m trying to talk to them- I know I’ve done it too, I’m not innocent here, but still.  Or when we do it to our parents or grandparents.  Let’s put DOWN the phones and disconnect for a while.

It’s definitely a challenge now that we’re all so used to it.  But when it comes down to dinner time, I’ve gotten accustomed to leaving my phone upstairs, and on silent, in my bedroom when I help my Mom cook, the family eats, and we clean up.  That’s about an hour and a half without my phone. Sure, when I pick it up again I may have a few messages, but who cares?  Next, I want to add a daily walk with the dogs/or something like it that is relaxing for myself where my phone gets left behind.  Disconnecting and taking time to myself to just think and be alone is relaxing.  That time during dinner with my family, I hardly even think about my phone.

So go ahead and do it.  Let me know if you do.  I want to hear your story.  Are you a connection addict like me?  Don’t be shy about it- I won’t judge!  Leave a comment and let’s support each other on this challenge!

Until next time, Happy Reading,

Allison

Favorite Celebrities

I think we all have those celebs that we just enjoy obsessing over.  For whatever reason, watching people live their own lives doing whatever it is they do, is just a fascinating and entertaining thing to us.  After all, if it weren’t, how on earth would reality TV be so popular?  Here is my own personal list of celebs that I tend to obsess over (in no particular order)!  And yea… you may notice some trends and patterns here….

Emma Watson:  I’ve loved her ever since I was first introduced to this girl in 2001 with the first Harry Potter film.  Since then, she’s not only proved herself on the screen, but as a human being.  She’s incredibly humble, funny, and kind.  She is exactly the type of positive role model that is needed in this world for young girls today. 

Daniel Radcliffe:  Not only is this man hilarious, his personality just comes out in pretty much everything he does.  He is an incredibly ‘real’ person, who is not afraid to admit his mistakes. 

Jennifer Lawrence:  Another completely hilarious person who has not let her fame and success go to her head in any way, Jennifer Lawrence is the type of person that everyone wants in his or her own life.  From the way she handled her fall(s) at the Oscars, to her down to earth nature in interviews, she is quite literally a person that I aspire to be more like.

Josh Hutcherson:  Jennifer Lawrence’s partner-in-crime, Josh Hutcherson is an adorable, yet funny person, that I would love to get to know.  His talent as Peeta in the Hunger Games films is incredible (especially in Catching Fire!), but once again he is another example of someone who does not let fame and success go to his head.

J.K. Rowling:  How do I even begin to explain what this woman means to me?  J.K. Rowling taught me to love reading, to dream big, and so much more.  She took me to far off places with her own imagination and words, and created an entire world in which I felt at home.  But beyond the world of her books, the real life woman has done so much more.  I made friends when I first moved to Baltimore because of common interests in her stories, and she inspired me to write.  As an individual, Rowling is so incredibly humble that she admits that her biggest accomplishment in life is her time spent as a single mother.  If that is not being humble, then I don’t know what is.  This woman lost her “billionaire status” because she gave so much money away to charity, and she has created her own charity, Lumos.  I can only pray and hope that one day I can become half of the person that she is.

AllisonWatches: The Office (U.S.)- Mid-Show Thoughts

A few months back, I decided to finally watch a show that is constantly raved about: The Office.  While the show had already ended, so many people, including Brittany, have always encouraged me to watch it, and I finally decided to do it.  I will say that going into it, I already knew the basics, had seen random episodes, knew the general plot lines, who ends up with who, etc.  Overall, I had an idea of what to expect.

I was definitely not expecting to fall in love with the show as much as I have.  I will say it now just to get it out there- if you haven’t watched the show, just do it.  It’s hilarious, light-hearted, and perfect.  I personally love starting my day with an episode while eating my breakfast.  It’s great to start the day with a good laugh.

This is absolutely one of those shows the only gets better with time.  But right off the bat, the show was incredible.  An episode in the first season, “Diversity Day,” which I had seen before, had me hooked and drew me further in, but then later on in the show classic episodes such as when Dwight creates a ‘fire drill’ causing Stanley to have a heart attack, had me laughing so hard I was clutching my ribs.  It’s a rare thing to find a television show that can make me laugh that hard.

Even better, the show is on Netflix.  If you don’t have a subscription to Netflix, I would highly recommend the service, but I’m not going to even get into how much I love the service.

My favorite characters? I have to say I pick the “obvious ones.” Jim, Pam, and Dwight.  I definitely squealed with delight over Jim admitting he purchased an engagement ring a week after beginning to date Pam, and began tearing up at his impromptu proposal.  I’m a softie, what can I say?  Dwight brings the hilarity and ridiculousness that every show and film needs, and he does it with such absurdity that is so out there you just want him in your own life.

Are you a major Office fan?  Which characters are you lusting over?  Do you want to work at Dunder Mifflin?  Let me know in the comments below!  I’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions on the show!

Until next time, Happy Reading!

Allison