So I know today is Thursday, which is usually devoted to Thinking Out Loud; and I know that May isn’t technically over yet, but I wanted to share my May favorites with you guys a little early. The reason being that tomorrow is Foodie Penpal reveal day, and it just kind of made more sense to switch today and tomorrow’s posts around. I’ll keep my intro short because these posts usually end up kind of massive, so without further ado, here are some of the things I’ve been loving throughout the month of May.
. – . – . – .
. food .
May was pretty low-key when it came to new foods. I didn’t end up buying a lot of new products since I was trying to get rid of some old ones, but I did go back to one of my old favorite: oats.
I know these guys aren’t exactly anything new, but after going 6+ months without them, being able to have my beloved oats again has kind of been a big deal. It’s a little upsetting to think that I may have to cut them out again, but our forbidden love affair was nice while it lasted. And at least I have something to fall back on…
Have you ever tried Kashi’s Blueberry Oat Clusters & Flakes? If not, I definitely recommend doing yourself a favor and picking up a box. I know I’m supposed to be emptying my pantry rather than adding to it, but after trying these at my parents’ place, I couldn’t help but get my own box. I was hooked. The flakes themselves have a subtly sweet blueberry flavor, while the clusters add a nice variety to the texture. Big fan.
And I suppose I could mention my newest snacking obsession…
Fruit soup. Combining plain yogurt with vanilla almond milk is genius, and when paired with fruit, cereal crumbs, and nut butter? Swoon. I could probably eat some version of this all day and never tire of it. And I realize that all of my food favorites this month revolve around oatmeal or cereal, but what can I say?… I’m a girl who likes her breakfast foods.
. – . – . – .
. beauty .
I swear, I should just give up on sharing all my other favorites and just devote these monthly posts to beauty finds – those seem to be the products that I can go on and on about. Can we say beauty junkie? Yes, yes we can. In any case, I’ve got quite a few things to share with you guys, starting with my most favoritest (yes, it’s a word) beauty find from this past month…
MAC’s paint pot in Painterly. This is technically an eye shadow, but I call it a godsend. I know it doesn’t exactly look like anything special or mind-blowing, especially because it’s basically the color of skin, but that’s the beauty of it! Eyelids are thin and sensitive. They’re prone to redness and discolouration, and have a tendency to let pesky veins show through – not really a good look for anyone. But one coat of Painterly and you’ve got yourself a perfect neutral base to work with. Not only does it even out the skin tone above your eyes, but it helps keep your other eye makeup from smudging throughout the day. I’ve heard people rave about this product for years but put off buying it because I didn’t think it would make a big difference. Bad idea. I’m still kicking myself for not picking this up years ago.
Next up, we’ve got Tarte’s Amazonian clay blush in Tipsy.
I love adding a touch of blush to my cheeks for a nice healthy glow, but my biggest issue with most blushes is that they tend to fade throughout the day. Tarte claims that their blushes will stay put for 12 hours, and while I can’t speak to those exact numbers, I can say that this blush definitely lasts a lot longer than most other blushes that I’ve tried. Another thing I love about it is that it’s free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and fragrances, which can irritate sensitive skin and contribute to breakouts.The color payoff is fantastic and blending is a breeze – I’m already looking to pick up a few more colors.
And speaking of blending… Makeup is only as good as it’s application. If you’re not careful, you could very well end up looking like a clown, and while a lot of that depends on the hand you apply it with, good tools don’t hurt. Let me introduce you to one of my all-time favorites…
The Beautyblender. This little egg-shaped miracle will take your makeup application to a whole other level. I know it seems a bit pricey for what is, essentially, a sponge, but it’s amazing at helping you achieve a flawless finish with basically any type of makeup you use on your face – liquid, cream, powder, or pressed. If you use it gently and wash it regularly, it’ll last you a long time and basically become your best friend. Trust me. The hype surrounding this thing is definitely well deserved.
But if you’re looking for something that’s a little more economically friendly, or if you’re a bigger fan of brushes, allow me to recommend these…
These brushes from Real Techniques are amazing, especially given the price. I picked up the core collection from Walmart, which gave me 4 brushes for something like $20. I was a little skeptical at first, but the quality of these is definitely comparable to some of the higher end brands, and they have a great selection for both eyes and face.
Last, but certainly not least, Philosophy’s Turbo Boost C Powder…
This stuff is basically a high-potency vitamin C for your face. Why do you want vitamin C on your face? Because it helps protect your skin against premature aging, while brightening and evening out your complexion. And let me tell you, it works. I’ve been using it for a few weeks now, and I’ve definitely noticed some big improvements. Not only is my face less blotchy and more even-toned, but my skin feels a lot smoother and more hydrated. All you have to do is mix a small scoop of the powder into your daily moisturizer and let it work its magic. This is definitely going to be part of my beauty regime for… ever.
. – . – . – .
. fitness .
Two words, three syllables. Out.door.walks.
I’m so ridiculously happy that it’s finally warmed up enough for me to be able to take my daily walks back outside, you have no idea. There still hasn’t been anything really new on the fitness front around these parts, but I’ve been considering getting back into something. I’m not quite sure what or when, especially since what I’ve been doing has been working just fine, but you know how it is… it’s always nice to be working towards some kind of goal.
. – . – . – .
. TV show .
Gossip Girl. I never seem to be able to keep up to date with current shows… Part of this probably comes down to the fact that I don’t have cable, but I think the fact that I don’t like having to wait a week for a new episode to air to find out what happens plays a bigger role. I used to watch Gossip Girl way back in the day when it was still on TV, but I stopped somewhere around the 4th season and took a couple of years off. For whatever reason, I kind of got sucked back in this month, and by sucked in I mean: watching 3 or 4 episodes back-to-back pretty much every day. I can’t help it! I need to find out what happens…
. – . – . – .
. blog .
May is one of those strange transitional months that doesn’t usually end up seeing a lot of action. Things have been pretty quiet for the past 30 odd days or so, and while I did experience a few noteworthy changes in a couple different areas of my life, I’m still not quite ready to talk about them just yet. Instead, I:
- … Spent a little bit of time talking about some of the changes I’ve gone through surrounding diet and exercise. I opened up about what happened when I stopped exercising, and looked at my current diet through the eyes of the girl I was in my past [disordered] life. It’s definitely nice to look back and see how far I’ve come.
- … Examined some of the goofy things that people do, like following The Starbucks Diet and polluting the minds of kids with thoughts of calories.
- … Let you in on the secret that you won’t find happiness in a smaller pair of jeans.
- … Didn’t come up with any new recipes (goal for June, perhaps?), but I did add some variety to my eats by cooking this chicken enchilada casserole and challenging myself to use up the products that were hiding in the depths of my pantry.
. – . – . – .
How was your May? Anything exciting happen? Good, and YES… but I’ll share more in time.
Any embarassing makeup stories to share? I’ve got plenty, but the first one that comes to mind is the blue glitter eyeshadow phase that I went through when I first started playing around with makeup. Not a good look for anyone, and I cringe just thinking about it…
Tell me some of your favorites from the past month!
Terrific paintings! This is the type of information that should be shared around the internet. Disgrace on the search engines for not positioning this publish higher! Come on over and discuss with my web site . Thanks =)
I still love your idea of cleaning out the pantry. I think I just bought five cans of beans so it may be problematic, but I’m thinking about giving it a whirl. If only I could dump the coconut flour altogether though. It led to a chocolate ball fail, and I thought balls never failed. Sigh.
Thanks for the tip on the vitamin C booster powder. I may actually give that a try. I’ve been using some ridiculously expensive cream on my upper lip in an effort to get rid of wrinkles (I’m older and a former smoker…aside from the health issues, there are serious vanity issues to be had) to no avail. I doubt the C will smooth out wrinkles but it might help minimize their appearance by making everything else even.
Happy today.
Ok, so I’ve got a fabulous idea…you come to the states for a little visit, help me throw away all my crap makeup, take me to Sephora and hold my hand, man my wallet (and practice tough love when I start to whimper about the price tags), and together we can overhaul my beauty supplies! Oh and I’ll be sure to pay you in copious amounts of Greek yogurt and Kashi cereal! Remember, I’m the queen of the manager’s specials! 😉
Embarrassing makeup story: How about any of the 1 million times I tried to apply eyeliner up until I discovered the absolute magic that is a soft tip applicator! You could seriously trace a line BETWEEN the liner and my eyelid! 😯
DEAL! And not only because of the promise of yogurt and cereal 😉 I legitimately love shopping for makeup with people… and girl, if you only knew how many embarrassing makeup stories I have, you probably wouldn’t value my opinions 😆
I have been loving walking outdoors these days!! The weather has been perfect and it makes me so happy! I am also crossing my fingers for you that you can keep oats in your life. I really don’t know what I would do if someone told me a couldn’t eat them anymore!
Your fitness routine sounds just about like mine. Walks. are. the. best. I hardly ever do scheduled workouts, but I usually end up taking my dogs for a walk every evening. It just makes the day that much better to be able to enjoy some fresh air! 🙂
I really like the Philosophy stuff. I will have to keep a look out for that Vit C powder! I’ve been loving a face scrub from Neals Yard which has been working wonders for my skin 🙂
Oh man. I am SO intrigued by that vitamin C powder. I am definitely very prone to hyperpigmentation, and have tried “chemical-ly” bleach-type creams from my dermatologist in the past with limited success. I will definitely be checking that out! And, oh my goodness, I think the time has come for me to buy Painterly. I have heard SO much about it over the years from friends & YouTube beauty bloggers, but have always thought the same things that you initially thought. Well, not anymore. You’ve convinced me 🙂 Have a great Friday, Amanda!
Hehee you’ll need a new name soon. RunningwithMascara, RunningwiththeBlushBrush…
I look forward to hearing more about your exciting news girly :).
Xxx
The beauty-obsessed girl within me is squeeling with delight over this post…
Seriously- LOVE.
The Beauty Blender is something that I finally invested in a few months ago and I’ll never look back. I was using a Mac stippling brush to apply my foundation before and, while it worked, it doesn’t compare to the power of the Blender.
I’ve sworn by Nars blushes for as long as I can remember but you’re tempting me to step out and buy one from Tarte. They must be doing something right because I’ve heard SO many people rave about them. The same goes for Mac’s paint pots- definitely need to invest in Painterly asap.
I can’t wait to see what fun things you discover next month!
I was really hooked on Nars blushes for a long time as well, and then I made the switch to Benefit. I have to say that Tarte outdoes both of them though. I’m actually looking to pick up their bronzer next and see how it compares to my Nars Laguna…
Soooo I’m pretty sure you’d be my go-to makeup person if you lived in the States. I’m one of those people who can do a couple things with makeup and rarely changes up her routine. I strongly rely on friends and sorority sisters for fancy makeup. I love the philosophy brand. Come to think of it, maybe my skin does need some Vitamin C! 😉
I love how you share your favourite beauty product. It is always nice to read about something other than food and fitness on occasion. I’m also ridiculously happy that its warm enough to enjoy walks outside. So much beautiful nature I never get tired of it!
Ohhhh….I’m curious to hear what exciting news you have to share! I’ve had the Kashi blueberry clusters and you’re right, they’re so good!
Oh, glitter eye shadow. How I loved the way you made my eyes sparkle. How I didn’t love the way you’d cake to my eyelids, making them difficult to open and close. Haha. Do you remember the sparkle gels? Shudder. I also went through a lip-liner stage, which I’d really like to forget about. Brown on pink? Let’s just say, I’m much happier keeping it simple with single tones these days. 🙂
I adore Tarte’s Amazonian clay blush. The rosy color gives my cheeks a little glow, but manages to remain natural-looking. Oh, and just so you know, you’ve completely sold me on MAC’s paint pot…Gah! 😉
You won’t believe it, but I’ve never seen Gossip Girl. I know. I tend to jump on board with TV series about five years late, which means maybe now is the right time to start watching. 😉
Happy Thursday, Amanda!
Hehe. I’m the same way with TV shows – always late. The next one I want to start watching is Lost. So many people rave about it, but I’ve never even seen a single episode!
I’m such a MAC addict… I must try out the paint pots next time I’m there! Lately I’ve just been running in for what I’m out of without looking at anything else, you know…to prevent myself from going on a MAC binge.
I’m looking forward to hearing your good/exciting news. 🙂
My May was both horrible and wonderful – I had crazy work and finals to finish, but I finally graduated! Definitely a huge load off.
I love all your beauty finds and wish I could check them out! But my skin is so sensitive that it only really likes chemical-free, *expensive*, products. I will have to check out that Tarte blush, though I think it’s a brand I can wear :-). I am, however, going to track down a BeautyBlender, it looks fantastic. I do love new toys!
As far as your fitness goes – have you thought about getting more into yoga? I feel like you might really enjoy it, as it can be as easy and relaxing or challenging as you make it, and give you some goals to work for. Let me know if you want some good youtube vids or DVD recommendations for some no-frills, fun yoga things.
Congrats on graduating, Rachel! I’ve tried yoga a few times in the past, but always have a hard time getting in to it. I’d definitely be open to some video recommendations though 🙂
I haven’t tried that Kashi cereal yet, but I’ve been meaning too! But every time I go to the cereal aisle, I always end up picking up a box of Kashi Honey Almond Flax – it’s my absolute favourite!
Hmm it’s not so much embarrassing as it is funny… 4 years ago I let one of my roommates do my make up so she finished doing one eye and she told me to go show one of our other roommates. So I did and as soon as I walked into her room she said “OMG how did you get the black eye?!” Hahaha. Needless to say I never let her do my make up again.