Tutorial Tuesday: How To Remove Cream Products From Makeup Brushes

Today's blog post is actually a tough lesson I learned about 4 years ago, 

'When using cream products, or highly pigmented products, clean your brush right away'. 

The first time I used cream products I didn't clean my brush until the next day, by then the brush was completely destroyed because I was scrubbing it with a brush cleanser and it seemed to only make the problem worse, finally I had to throw my beautiful MAC 188 brush in the garbage or as Don likes to say "that was $35 thrown away". So I thought I would show you how to remove cream products from your brush anytime after using it i.e. right after or a week later, this should work.

First you need a few supplies: Shampoo, Rubbing Alcohol, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and Cotton Pads.

 You want to apply the Rubbing Alcohol to the Cotton Pad and begin swiping your dirty brush back and forth as well as swirling it around.

Then dip your brush into the olive oil and allow the brush to stay in the oil for at least 30 seconds, you can swipe the brush against the edge of the bowl to release some of the makeup.

Turn on your hot/warm water (no cold as that will make the oil solidify), and push the oil off the brush by gripping tightly and pushing your hand foreword. Repeat this step until the oil is removed.

I like to dip my brush in the oil 2-3 times before moving on, just to insure the makeup is being removed as well as your brushes are being conditioned  since the Rubbing Alcohol is sooooooo (hehe) drying.

Then taking a small pea size amount of shampoo swirl your brush around to thoroughly clean your brush. I like to swirl it on my fingers rather than my palm because my fingers act as a washboard and helps remove all of the product.

Then repeat this step to insure you have removed all the oil from your brush.

Then lay your brush so the bristle part is at an angel facing down so the water will drain properly and not go up into the furrow and destroy your brush. 

Once dry you can again apply those cream products we all love to use. 

             

Film Friday:

Todays Film Friday is The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty. I have been wanting to see this movie since Christmas and it has finally come out!!!!! 

So the movie starts off a little slow for me, but picks up quickly, and I have to say I love seeing Walter Mitty's zoned out fantasies they are so entertaining, the superhero one was the best. But by far my favorite part was the skateboarding in Iceland towards an erupting volcano, and all the while he has no idea and is instead wondering where all the people have gone. 

While this movie is a great family movie and good for a few laughs, there is so much more there. It really makes you want to examine your life and ask yourself "Are you living the life you have always wanted to live, or are you living the life expected of you?" and I came away thinking there is so much I want to do and see and yet I'm not really doing any of it. 

But back to the movie, definitely see this and make sure you watch it with a nice bowl of popcorn and someone who can enjoy a good slap-stick laugh. 

Thoughts Thursday: ELF HyperShine Gloss

Todays Thoughts Thursday is on the ELF HyperShine Gloss in the color Flirt. 

When I first ordered this gloss I didn't have high expectations for it, but I thought I would try it because it's only $1.00.  One of the first things that fought my eye was the size of the products, it provides a significant amount of gloss for the cost. I then spotted the brush tip and was so bummed because I normally hate these as the brush is never firm enough and it can cause your gloss to go all over, but I can happily report this is the first brush tipped gloss that I not only like I love!!! As for the actual gloss, as expected for a $1.00 lip gloss you will need to reapply this throughout the day and night, however this gloss is so moisturizing. When wearing this gloss it feels exactly like I'm wearing the Maybelline Baby Lips, but with a little better color transfer :) Also the color selection is great this color on their website looked a bit nudey, but when I apply it it comes out much more cloud pink, and when on it looks more of a coral. I would recommend this gloss to everyone out there, they have 8 colors to choose from and I can't wait to try the rest.

However, I was unable to find a location near me that sold ELF so I ordered all of my products online. My box came within about 2 weeks of my order, but it only contained 1/2 my order so I contacted ELF right away. They said they would send out a new package soon but...I ordered this on December 28th 2013, I didn't receive the missing part of my order until February 21, 2014. When I asked then to send me tracking info for the order they did but the number they sent was invalid and USPS could not verify what package they were talking about. Then when I asked then to just refund my money there was no reply. In the end my order did finally arrive, but I would advise looking for a local retail location before ordering online. 

          

Day 2 Summer Weight Loss Challenge

Today is day 2 of the Summer Weight Loss Challenge, I didn't make it out to the gym but I did clean a little...maybe...some. I will try and get there it is so hard for me to get motivated especially when Don isn't motivated because it gives me an excuse not to go, but I did get snaps of what I ate so here goes...

 

For breakfast I had a bowl of Cheerios's with strawberries, and almond mils. I also had my usual iced coffee.

For lunch I had SplasH20, and a grilled tuna melt, it had onions, cranberries, and cheddar, oh and tuna of course.

I had a Cara Cara orange for a snack.

 And then because I had the orange and wasn't very hungry I had some Apple Beet Ginger juice from Whole Foods. Now normally I would not condone juice drinking as a meal because juicing your vegetables isn't giving you a lot of nutrients, but I wanted to try this and I wasn't actually hungry. As for the taste I didn't care for it too much as it has a lot of ginger and ginger overpowers everything if you use too much.

What I'm Reading Wednesday: Game Of Thrones

June 2013 I purchased the entire box set of Game of Thrones, because I am OBSESSED with this show, to me this show is my love of monarchs and history (kinda, it's in a time before cars hahaha) meets fantasy and syfy.  So I have now made it to the middle of book three and really just in time because the show has just started up again and now I'm just a little bit ahead of the show. I want to finish the book as quickly as possible as I don't know how quickly the show will follow  through it and I want to make sure that the book doesn't get ruined for me.

Any time someone asks me if I think they would like the show I always say "imagine The Tudors meets Harry Potter, you have the in-fighting of the nobility, as well as dragons, worgs (which are kinda  like the Animagus' in Harry Potter), and White Walkers (which remind me of the Dementors).

The books and the show are a bit on the gory side so be prepared for some blood, and incest, but if you can handle that you will love these books. Also remember how I said I started in June 2013, that was NOT a joke, be prepared for the long haul, these books are long, but very detailed, and worth every 6 months spent reading 1 book :) I will say they make great summer  books for lounging by the pool.

Here is the iTunes listing for the book set I purchased.

                                      

Summer Weight Loss Challenge Day 1

I started my morning off with my usual iced coffee using the sugar-free coffee creamer from CoffeeMate.

Then I had the Natures Path Flax Plus Cereal, with strawberries, and Almond Milk.

Then I had the Melaleuca SplasH20 which is a sugar free drink that tastes amazing.

I included the back of the box incase you wanted to checkout the nutritional information. 

With my SplasH20 I also had a grilled sandwich which had chicken breast, cheddar cheese, and honey mustard. 

For dinner we had italian from Assagio's this is the angel hair pasta with meat sauce, grilled vegetables, and fish pomidori. 

For working out I didn't go to the gym instead I stayed home and read hahaha but I am trying to talk myself into it. 

See you guys tomorrow. 

Summer Weight Loss Challenge

As you all know I have gained a few, or 60 pounds that I would like remove from myself. You also know I have struggled to lose that weight, so I have decided to start a little challenge that will not only motivate me but also any of you out there needing a little boost.

What is it?
The Summer Weight Loss Challenge is a 60 day plan starting  April 8, 2014 and ending June 7th 2014. In those 60 days I will be posting daily what I eat, and any exercise I do, and then on Saturday we will have STAT Saturday where I show you my weight and measurements.

What is your goal for this challenge?
I have set a short term goal of 20 pounds for this challenge, I know that it may sound like a lot but lets face it I have a lot to lose as well as we all tend to drop weight faster and easier in the beginning so I am confident this goal is reasonable.

How will this motivate me?
As I said before I will be posting daily what I do and share via twitter, instagram, Facebook, and tumblr. So I am asking all of you to share too. You don't have to post everyday you can do it weekly if you like, but for those of you who post a picture of yourself at least 4 time at the gym, or out doing something active ( i.e. walking, running, hiking, playing with the kids) and tag me in it, I will be holding a giveaway that Saturday. So that means 8 giveaways in the next 8 weeks.
When you post your picture online you can tag me using the above links as well as using

#2BeeHealthy.

I hope this helps motivate all of you in your goals and can't wait to get started so I am doing my first post today!!!!!!!

Music Monday: Angela McClure

I have been listening to Angela McClure's album Thistle & Weed non-stop lately, it's a little twany-country on some songs, but its also kinda sad and depressing, which I guess says a lot about how I'm feeling, but all in all I love listening to this album, its smooth and mellow but not to the point that your going to fall asleep. Her voice is amazing, and I love the simplicity of the instruments its just good music. My only complaint on this album would be Highway 44, it doesn't seem to fit with the rest of the album, the words seem to work, but I feel like they went a bit wild with the instruments and it feels a little too 'up" for an album thats supposed to be "down". 

I will leave you with the iTunes album below, listen to Stone it's my favorite song off this album, followed by Work It Out.