Optimistic Monday

I am back from vacation and pretty proud to say that I kept up with most of my social media life while in NYC and Michigan for the week. Let's see how my goals for last week panned out...

1. Walk at least 3 times while in NYC

I can't get enough of NYC and Central Park. I woke up on 3 mornings, put on my walking clothes and walked from Midtown to Central Park and then through Central Park taking in the scenery. Did I say I love Central Park? It's really an undrstatement. The park was bustling with life! People were out walking, running, riding bikes, walking dogs, nannies played with children, summer camps were picnicing, etc. Then I got in many additional miles walking each day during our sightseeing and shopping. If you have never been, you must make it a point to go! I also got a walk in while in Michigan. The weather was perfect and cool in the morning for a walk.

7/23/12 4.20 miles 7/24/12 4.34 miles 7/25/12 3.26 miles 7/28/12 4.20 miles

2. Stay opened minded when dealing with the relatives

I did it! Total stress free vacation! I just laugh about the fact that there are too many people trying to make decisions at the same time.

3.  Get a few Thank You cards written

I actually wrote out 4 cards while on the plane coming home from vacation! Just a few more to go!

4. Shop, but not til I drop

I really did meet this goal! As you know, I am obsessed with makeup and promised I would only purchase products that I could not buy at home. I stuck to it and only purchased items from Inglot and Gosh. To see my Inglot Haul video click below.

5. Continue to post on my blog

Goal achieved! I put up several posts during the week. I did this by organizing my downtime. It was actually easy to achieve.

6. Count my bessings

You know I do! Each and every day I am thankful for the life I live and the people that are in it.

Goals for this week:

1. First day home get to the grocery store for necessities of our family of 5.

2. Unpack and get things put away rather than sitting in suitcases for days.

3. Walk 3-4 times this week, 3-4 miles each.

4. Take some pictures after reviewing lessons from photography class.

5. Make a little video montage of our trip.

6. Continue to appreciate each and every day!

Refreshing Outfit

My Friday's Fancies outfit this week is a little late (for me).  I am traveling with my family and had a slight change in plans...  Our flight from NYC to Michigan was cancelled (twice) so we rented a car and drove!  661 miles!  That is unheard of at our house.  We looked at it as an adventure.  And an adventure it was!!

That leads me into my Friday's Fancies outfit for this week...  Who doesn't love a refreshing Pina Colada in the summer?  It is one of my favorite drinks!  Summertime and Pina Coladas make me think of carefree days and nights.  I could REALLY use one of these right now after 11 hours in the car.  Thank goodness for iPhones and 4G service most of the trip.

Refreshing Outfit by makeupobsessedmom featuring short shorts

Joie top
joie.com

Dr. Denim short shorts
$63 - nelly.com

TOMS white flat
$55 - blueberries-online.com

Rebecca Minkoff shoulder handbag
zappos.com

Sport SPF 35 Pina Colada Sunscreen Spray
coolasuncare.com

Be sure to check out my GIVEAWAY going on now!! My friend Crystal and I both reviewed the Benefit High Beam and had differing opinions...

Have a great weekend and go have a refreshing drink!!

Benefit High Beam Review & Giveaway

I wanted to try a liquid type of face illuminator for quite some time.  I think a glowy dewy face looks so nice in the summer.  I decided to ask my friend Crystal at MissCrystalMakeup to join me in reviewing this product so that you get not just one, but two completely different opinions from two completely different women with an obsession for makeup in common.  Please click HERE to visit Crystal's blog and see what she thinks too...  If you would like to join me for a future product review and comparison, just contact me using the form on my home page.

I have heard of High Beam from Benefit for quite some time but had not purchased it in the past.  No particular reason why it never made it's way into my shopping baskets.  High Beam is a liquid illuminator from Benefit Cosmetics that can be used anywhere on the face that you might want to highlight.  The packaging recommends putting it on the cheekbones, brow bone, and/or bridge of nose.  The product comes in a glass jar with a brush applicator similar to a bottle of nail polish.  I personally am never too thrilled with a brush applicator that has to be put back in the container after it has touched the air, the face, the hands, etc.  I would have preferred a squeeze type applicator.  The color of this product has a creamy pinkish tint.  I apply it as the last product to go onto my face in the makeup application process.  A full size bottle costs $26 and can be purchased at any store that sells Benefit products.  I have seen it available everywhere including Ulta, Sephora, Macy's, etc.

Now for the difficult task of photographing this product for you...  I really tried guys, but it is a difficult one to capture.  To be honest, I am hoping Crystal was able to get some good pictures.  I know I can count on her!  These pictures are from the Benefit Cosmetics website.

I applied this product by using the brush to put about 4 small dots on the upper part of my cheekbones after all other makeup was in place.  I simply pat it in with my fingers to the area that I wanted illuminated. You could use a brush if you prefer.  It goes on very easily and creates exactly the finish that I was looking for which is a luminous dewy look that is not glittery.  I would recommend this product for all ages and skin tones.  I think we all look nice with a dewy glow.  Have you tried this product?  What do you think?

So... how about a GIVEAWAY for a full size bottle of High Beam of your own!  To be entered, please go to Crystal's blog and follow.  Read and comment on her post review of the Benefit High Beam.  Follow my blog and leave a comment here too.  That's it!  Follow 2 blogs and Leave 2 comments.  We will use a randomizer to pick one winner on August 8th, 2012.

Good Luck and Have a Great Day!

Optimistic Monday

I had a pretty good week as far as meeting my goals that I set for myself last week.  Here is a recap:

1. Walk and/or run at least 4 times with a minimum of 3 miles each time.

Results:

7/16/12 3.13 miles 7/17/12 3.30 miles 7/20/12 3.12 miles 7/21/12 3.25 miles

On Friday I had a scary thing happen to me while out walking.  You can see my video here.  Please subscribe to my channel while you are there! 

2. Buy new running shoes.

These are the shoes that I purchased after going to 5 different stores.  They are everything I was looking for, so I am quite happy.

3. Take a photography class and post some pictures.

This didn't go exactly as planned...

Total fail!  I don't have an SLR camera so I was not able to catch the splash.  I am thinking of purchasing a used one or a beginner new one.  If you have any recommendations, please let me know.

This one came out pretty decent.

This was supposed to have the object as the focal point and the background blurred.  Needless to say, everyone else's came out a lot better than mine.

4. Add at least 2 meaningful posts to my blog, etc.

Yes, I added several posts, joined several link ups and added lots of comments. I still feel so behind the rest of the blogging world. However, I am coming up on 2 years on my YouTube channel and most bloggers don't make videos too.

5. Get my vacation packing done early.

Not gonna lie... Most of my packing was complete the night before my trip. But as always, I was stuffing last minute items into my suitcase.

6. Write out all thank you notes.

Nope, didn't happen. I should be ashamed. However, I did pack some cards with a pen and stamps into by travel bag. You never know when you will have free time on vacation.

7. Cook at least 2 dinners at home even though half the family was travelng.

Nope! Not unless you consider Lean Cuisine a home cooked meal. LOL! It was mostly just one daughter and myself at home for the week. Since she sleeps until 2 or 3 in the afternoon our mealtimes didn't exactly coordinate.

8. Remember all that I am blessed with and am thankful for.

Not a day goes by where I don't reflect on my life and all that I have been given.

Now for this week's Optimistic Monday's Goals:

I am traveling this week so my goals will be shorter and different. But I like setting goals, so here goes:
1. Walk at least 3 times. I am hoping that 2 of these times will be through Central Park in NYC. I usually do this when I am here. What a cool park to walk or run through.


2. Stay open minded and patient when dealing with my husband's family. This is family reunion week and I don't always see eye to eye with everyone else in these situations. I plan to just kick back and not get stressed out.


3. Try to get a few of those thank you notes written... Afterall, I did bring the supplies with me.


4. Shop, but not til I drop! Haha! Since I don't need a single thing (except for the contact lens solution that I forgot) I will make a few purchases of items that I simply cannot buy at home or are such a good deal that I can't pass them up. Hmmm... Not sure how this one will pan out. But who can vacation without shopping? Especially in NYC?!


5. Continue to post on my blog. Afterall, I have my iphone, ipod touch, ipad and Macbook with me. Crazy but true! I need each device for a different purpose, therefore I travel with them all.


6. Continue to count my blessings. I am truly thankful for so much.

Have a GREAT week everyone!

Sunday Social and Giveaway Winner

I had so much fun with last week's Sunday Social that I decided to participate again.  It would be great if you would join us too.  Just answer the questions in your own post on Sundays and link up to participate.  It's a great way to meet fellow bloggers!

This Weeks Questions:

Favorite handbag you've ever owned

Of all the purses that I own, my favorite is one that I "borrowed" from one of my daughters.  It is the Louis Vuitton Pochette.  I own a large LV bag of my own, but this tiny little bag is so convenient.  I can only fit my wallet in it, my cell phone and a favorite lipstick and gloss.  It is never too heavy on my shoulder so it doesn't weigh me down.  I think I may actually dig it back out to take on vacation.

Dream handbag you lust over

I would sort of LOVE to get a quilted Chanel bag on a nice long chain.  However, I can't stand the thought of spend so much money on a single purse.  Maybe one day...  A girl can dream!

Daily essentials in your purse or work bag

I really try to keep the contents of my purse to a minimum.  That means wallet, check book, lipstick and gloss, tampons (in case of emergency), a few pills, a pen, coupons for great deals in stores (when I remember) and my cell phone.

What's in your purse (with pictures)

The items listed above are what I thought were in my in my purse right now.
I was correct about most things.

Thanks to Neely and Ashley for hosting this fun Sunday Social!

And now on to my Blog Giveaway Winner!!I used a randomizer for all entries to the giveaway.And the winner is:


 DNISS0508

Please contact me with your name and shipping information.
Have a GREAT Sunday everyone!

Euro Vacation Outfit

Whenever I travel I like to keep it simple and comfortable.  Layering is key.  You never know if you will be in a cold restaurant or a hot bus, etc.  I have learned to travel with the bare minimum because I almost always end up shopping when on vacation.  My next trip is to NYC for a few days of fun followed by a family reunion in Michigan.  Anybody going somewhere fun this summer?

Euro Vacation Outfit by makeupobsessedmom featuring a sheer blouse

NSF sheer blouse
otteny.com

LOFT cardigan
loft.com

Hollister Co. skinny jeans
hollisterco.com

Anniel ballet shoes
stevenalan.com

Cole haan handbag
colehaan.com

Beaded jewelry
tiffany.com

Leather jewelry
$26 - diva.net.au

Bare Escentuals foundation
$39 - asos.com

Have a GREAT weekend everyone!

Frozen Yogurt Covered Blueberries

My guess is that you have seen recipes for frozen yogurt covered fruit all over Pinterest by now.  My daughter and I thought this sounded like a nice, healthy and refreshing snack so we bought the supplies and went for it.  After all, there was no cooking involved and it only takes a few minutes to complete.

We purchased blueberries (most fruits and berries will do), vanilla flavored greek yogurt, toothpicks and wax paper.  You simply spear a blueberry on the toothpick.  Then swirl it in the yogurt.  Drop it on wax paper.  Repeat until you have the quantity needed.  We started with only a few dozen to be sure we liked the end product.  We then put the wax paper covered blueberries on a baking sheet and placed them in the freezer.

We kept ours in the freezer for 30 minutes.  After removing the frozen blueberries from the wax paper, we put them in a plastic container to store them for later consumption.

And the verdict is...

too sour for our liking.

We both think that these would be better with a sweeter, more sugary frozen coating.  Next time we will use regular vanilla yogurt to see if it makes a difference.  Have you tried this yet?  If so, what did you think?  What fruit and yogurt did you use?

Optimistic Mondays

I thought talking about my goals for the week would be a good topic to talk about or at least think about on Monday mornings. After all, when you write something down, you just might be more likely to stay committed to a task and might even accomplish your goals. I am always optimistic, therefore I thought this would be a good title for my new series.  If you can think of a better title please let me know.  I am always open to suggestions!

My goals for this week:

1. Walk and/or run at least 4 times with a minimum of 3 miles each time.

2. Buy new running shoes. I like to wear the Nike+ shoes so that I can put in my sensor and keep track of each run. However, I have had a hard time finding the shoes with the + lately.

3. I am taking a photography class on Wednesday, so my goal is to post some pictures later in the week to show off my new found (I hope) skills. I have been wanting to take a class for years.

4. Add at least 2 meaningful posts to my blog, visit other blogs to make new friends (and add lots of comments to them) and learn more about the social media world.

5. Get my packing done early for my vacation. Maybe even a whole 24 hours in advance so I will be calm and cool on the actual travel day.

6. Sit down and finally get all of my thank you cards written and mailed that I owe people.

7. Cook at least 2 dinner meals at home even though half the family is gone this week.

8. And, as always, remember all that I am blessed with and am so thankful for.

Sunday Social

I've spent a lot of time on my computer this week trying to learn more about the blogging world and social media.  It is pretty overwhelming, to say the least! Please be patient as I learn the ropes to proper blogging, etc...

I recently discovered the world of "link ups" within blogging. A blog or group of blogs sponser a weekly topic for bloggers to post on their own blogs. You then post your link on the original blog. This is a way to meet other bloggers and share. It all makes sense to me! I have had fun meeting other bloggers. It is very similar to the YouTube world that I have been involved in for almost two years now.


This post is part of the Sunday Social series. I will put a link below so you can check it out and participate. Get to know me better as I answer the questions below.

This week's questions:

Best trip you've ever been on:

The best trip for me was a trip to Europe in 2008.  I went to London, Paris and then took a cruise around the Mediteranean with my family. We sailed on Norweigon Cruise lines for 7 days in a 4000 square foot suite. My husband figured that we might as well do it up right if we were gong to do it at all. No complaints here! We had a private balcony with hot tub and a butler. Needless to say, that was a trip that the whole family will remember forever.

Best idea for a girls weekend trip:

This one's a toss up for me. I love places like NYC, where there is so much to do. But I also love quiet places like the beach where you can be lazy all day.

Best idea for a couples trip:

Same as above... City life is fun and exciting with so much to do. Yet quiet places like the beach can be so romantic.

Best vacation on the cheap:

I think the "staycation" is the way to go here. Find local attractions that peak your interest.

Place you most want to visit:

This is a hard one for me. I love visiting exciting exotic locations, but I hate "getting" there. As in, I hate flying! This is a fact that I am not shy about. I have to take a sedative just to get into a plane. I am working on this phobia of mine. I would love to go to a place like Bora Bora in the future.

Vacation/Travel necessities:

When I travel I must have magazines, a good book, gum, my ipad, my laptop, my cell phone, healthy snacks, not so healthy snacks, sunscreen, lipgloss, mascara and a big pretty tote bag to carry it all in.  I never travel without my running shoes.  No matter where I am, I like to get in my morning walks/runs.  This helps to be able to eat whatever I want on vacation and not have to think twice about it.

Simply Vera by Vera Wang Lip Gloss Review

The Simply Vera by Vera Wang line of cosmetics hit the shelves exclusively at Kohl's department stores a few months ago. I started off by purchasing a beautiful eye shadow duo and have now added a new lip gloss.

I purchased Smooth Shine Lip Gloss in number 809. It is a beautiful nude type color with mauve and blue undertones (remember, blue undertones make your teeth look whiter). I was immediately in love with this color! I think it looks great on the lips by itself without lipstick or liner. It is shimmery, but not sparkly.  It has great staying power (lasted several hours on my lips). It is a little heavy feeling, which I personally like. That helps me to know that my gloss is still on without having to check in a mirror.

Click here to see for yourself the Simply Vera by Vera Wang cosmetics line at Kohl's. Use code BLOGIT10 through August 23, 2012 to receive 10% off your entire order. Have you tried any products from the line? If so, please tell me what you think.

*I was not paid to do this review. I am not being compensated for this review. All opinions expressed are my own. I purchased this item with my own money.*

Wedding Outfit

Who doesn't love to go to a wedding in the summer? I usually keep it simple, yet sophisticated when attending weddings. I have only been to one wedding this summer and wore a dress similar to this one in my Friday's Fancies. I love weddings, flowers, hearts, diamonds (what girl doesn't?) and romance!

Wedding Outfit by makeupobsessedmom featuring gold handbags

Alexon knee length cocktail dress
$115 - houseoffraser.co.uk

Vince Camuto high heel sandals
vincecamuto.com

MICHAEL Michael Kors gold handbag
neimanmarcus.com

Stella dot jewelry
stelladot.com

Christian Dior nude cosmetic
lordandtaylor.com

Deborah lippmann nail polish
barneys.com

**AND**

If you haven't heard yet, I added a Makeup Obsessed Mom Facebook page! I am excited to add this page to my social media. Stop by here  and "Like" my page soon!

Giveaway Time!

Thanks for following and supporting my blog! Your kind and encouraging words mean the world to me! I can honestly say that I am having a great time here. I never knew about the GIANT world of blogging until recently. I am having a great time meeting new friends and visiting all kinds of blogs. I am even attending a bloggers boot camp in September. I am so excited about that!!

As promised, I am back with another giveaway for my blog. I said I would do one when I hit 100 followers, so here goes...

The winner of this giveaway will be chosen from all comments received on this blog post on July 21st, 2012 using random.org. You must:
1. Be a subscriber to my blog
AND
2. Leave a comment on THIS post.
It's that simple!

What will you win? One winner will receive the makeup products shown in the photo accompanying this post. I will use a randomizer to choose the winner.

Good Luck Everyone!!

Prizes include:
Lorac TANtalEYES Palette
Lorac Multiplex 3D Lip Gloss in 4D
Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey
Maybelline Volum'Express Mascara
Stila Sahara Sand Eye Shadow Palette and lip glaze set

Sibu Beauty Products

I have been using several different products from Sibu Beauty for about a year now. I recently received several products from them to use and then review. This post is about the newest trio of products to be introduced into the line.  This review contains my own personal honest opinions.  I was not paid for my review.

The first product that I added to my facial cleansing routine is the Exfoliating Cleanser. This cleanser has a rough consistancy in a creamy cleanser. Does that make sense? It reminds me of an apricot type facial scrub that I used many many years ago. However, this has the sea buckthorn properties.  This is not a daily type of cleanser. It should be used just a few times a week for a deep down clean that gives your face a refreshed smooth feeling.

I followed the cleansing process with the new Clarifying Toner. It comes in a convenient spray bottle. I sprayed it on and pat it in with my fingers or a cotton pad. This could me done morning and/ or evening. This product refreshes and hydrates the skin.

Twice a week I added the new Purifying Mask to my night time routine. The mask has a wonderful scent. I put the mask on and went about other things for about 10 minutes while it worked it's magic. I then rinsed the mask off with warm water. Again, this product makes the skin feel soft and refreshed, not tight like some other masks do.  The product packaging indicates that the mask has a toxin absorbing base with activating enzymes to help get rid of dead skin cells revealing a fresh youthful radiance.

I highly recommend these products! I have tried several others in the past and I am equally impressed with all of them. If you do not know about Sibu Beauty and their line of products you can visit their website.   The website is full of great information on the sea buckthorn berries and their health benefits as well as their entire line of products.

http://www.sibubeauty.com

4th of July Outfit

This outfit is almost an exact duplicate to what I wore this year to Fourth of July festivities. If only I had the beautiful red Chanel purse pictured above... A girl can dream!

4th of July Outfit by makeupobsessedmom featuring opi nailpolish

3 1 Phillip Lim racerback tank top
lagarconne.com

Current/Elliott boyfriend cropped jeans
net-a-porter.com

2b summer shoes
2bstores.com

Chanel wallet
portero.com

MICHAEL Michael Kors michael kors jewelry
nordstrom.com

J Crew bohemian style jewelry
jcrew.com

Knot jewelry
$10 - wallis.co.uk

Opi nailpolish
beautystoredepot.com