ColourPop First Impressions Haul

Hello friends! Recently I made an order from ColourPop, a makeup brand based in Los Angeles that everyone raves about, particularly their matte liquid lipsticks. I thought I'd see what all the hype is about and order some of their products, so here are my first impressions.

• Satin Finish Blush in Pegacorn - Okay, so I bought this blush mostly because of the name, but also because it's gorgeous. It's a sheer plum blush with a bit of shimmer (not glitter, just glow), and it's perfect for fall, even thought I wear it in the middle of July, too.

• Highlighter in Spoon - This highlight looks amazing online, but it's far too glittery for me. It's a super pretty champagme shade, and I still love it, but I'll probably use it as an eyeshadow.

• Ultra Satin Lip in Lyin' King - Holy moly these things are so worth the hype. I have never worn such a pigmented gloss, and it's absolutely stunning. This shade is a cool-toned berry red, and althought I can't attest to the staying power of it yet, as I don't have many red lip-appropriate occasions, I can't wait to wear it.

• Ultra Matte Lip in Lumiere 2 - This one I have worn for extended periods of time, and I'm in love. Typically I don't like matte lips because I don't like the dry feeling they give, and I do correct that finish with a clear gloss, but I still love the cool neutral purple hue, so I don't mind. The staying power is amazing - I put it on in the morning, blot it a bit so it doesn't transfer to my teeth, and top it with the gloss. The gloss may wear off, but the color stays all day long.

• Lippie Pencil in Lumiere - This pencil doesn't quite match the Matte Lip, but it's still a perfect neutral lip liner that I can wear with anything.

• Mini Gloss in Tokyo Tea - Something I didn't know about ColourPop is that you can get free Mini Glosses with certain dollar amounts of a purchase. I qualified for two, and this is the first one I picked. It's a bright orange-red, and my only complaint is that the applicator is absolutely tiny, so it take multiple dips back into the product to cover my lips.

• Mini Gloss in Finders Keepers - This is my second freebie, and it's the perfect my-lips-but-better shade. My only complaint is the same as the last: the applicator is too tiny.

 

Overall, I am very impressed with the brand as a whole, and will definitely try more things from them in the future. Let me know of any other brands you'd like first impressions on, and let me know if you've tried any of these things.

 

 

*Note: all photos are from ColourPop's website, purely for the reason of wanting the pictures to be as true-to-hue as possible.

 

 

I wish you all the best,

Erin

My Top 50 Favorite Baby Names

Hello friends! Recently Meagan (TulipByAnyName on YouTube) made/is making a series of videos on her channel discussing her top 50 favorite baby names, and I thought I'd follow suit over here. I don't have quite as many favorites as she does, so I'm sharing my top 25 for both boys and girls, so 50 in total (and my favorites at this moment because I change my mind almost daily). I'll list both boys and girls under the same number, girls' names first, with any nicknames I'd want to use following the name.

1. Scarlett (Scout) // Isaac
2. Maisie // Beckett (Beck)
3. Lila // Calvin
4. Stella // Samuel (Sam)
5. Isla // Griffin
6. Ingrid (Indie) // Hudson
7. Eleanor (Nellie) // Connor
8. Wren // Ford
9. Livia (Liv) // Declan
10. Enorah (Norah) // Jude
11. Elodie (Elle) // Oliver
12. Adeleine [pronounced Adalyn] (Addie) // Knox
13. Brooklyn // Fletcher
14. Nessa // Parker
15. Kaila // James
16. Grace // Benjamin (Ben)
17. Esme // Michael (Mac)
18. Audrey // Andrew
19. Charlotte // Caleb
20. Victoria // Rowan
21. Noelle // Gray
22. Sutton // Phoenix
23. Cosette // August
24. Ruby // Indigo
25. Mira // Wyatt

Let me know some of your favorites and any further posts you'd like to see in the comments - I'd love to hear from you!

I wish you all the best,
Erin

Sweet Spot: Greek Chicken Pitas with Lemon Garlic Sauce and Roasted Potatoes

Hello friends! I have another recipe for you, and I'm absolutely obsessed. These pitas make for a great weeknight dinner, but also produce amazing leftovers for lunch. Warning: Aside from being addictive, this is mostly to taste and depends on quantity, so I have almost no real measurements. Use your best judgement. It's the most fun way to cook, and makes for way less dishes to do when you're done.

The Lineup:
     About 1 1/2 lbs. chicken breasts (depending on how many you're serving), cut into 1
     inch cubes
     About 1 cup lemon juice, divided
     Garlic olive oil (or olive oil with minced garlic)
     Oregano
     Salt & pepper
     About 1 1/2 lbs. red potatoes, scrubbed and cut into 1 inch pieces
     1 cup canola oil
     1 egg white
     6 peeled garlic cloves
     Pita halves
      Lettuce & tomato for topping, if desired

The Play-by-Play:
1. Marinate chicken in 1/3 cup lemon juice, 1/3 cup garlic olive oil, salt, pepper, and
    oregano to taste. Refrigerate 2-24 hours.
2. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Toss potatoes in about 1/4 cup lemon juice, 1/4 cup
    garlic olive oil, salt, pepper, and oregano to taste. Roast approximately 30 minutes
    until fork-tender.
3. In a blender or small food processor bowl, combine canola oil, 1/3 cup lemon juice,
    egg white, peeled garlic, salt, pepper, and oregano. Blend until whipped and creamy,
    1-2 minutes.
4. Light grill. Place marinated chicken on soaked bamboo skewers, grill until cooked
    through, about 4 minutes per side.
5. If desired, brush pitas with olive oil and grill until warm.
*6. Assemble pitas with chicken, sauce, and toppings. Serve with potatoes. Enjoy!

Quick Play:
If you don't have access to a grill, the chicken can be cooked on a stovetop. The pitas also don't need to be grilled, just be sure to follow package directions before serving - most need to be microwaved before filling to make them more flexible. This chicken and even the sauce would also be amazing in a Greek salad. The sauce will make about 2 cups, so store the rest in the fridge for your later enjoyment.

The Playmaker: http://www.jocooks.com/main-courses/poultry-main-courses/marinated-chicken-spiedies-with-garlic-sauce/
    
    
I wish you all the best,
Erin

Get to Know Me Tag

Hello friends! There's been quite a bit of traffic to this lovely little internet corner lately (Hello! Welcome!), so I figured I'd do the ever-popular Get to Know Me Tag from YouTube to let you all learn a little more about me.

1. What's your middle name?
     Violet
2. Favorite school subject?
    Conventional subject: English // Nonconventional subject: chorus
3. Favorite drink?
    Iced caramel mochas are what I live on.
4. Favorite song at the moment?
    This is so hard because I have multiple favorites of everything. Right now it's "Hell No"
    by Ingrid Michaelson. It's just a good jam.
5. What would you name your children?
    As some of you may know, I adore names and thinking about my future kids' names. If I
    had my ideal set of kids to name at this exact moment, I would have two girls and a
    boy, and their names would be Scarlett Lila (I would call her Scout - I think it's an
    adorable, unconventional nickname), Maisie Wren, and Beckett Calvin (I would call
    him Beck), so I would have Scout, Maisie, and Beck.
6. Have you played any sports?
    I did dance and cheerleading when I was little, but I'm as graceful as a baby giraffe on
    ice, so that didn't really work out.
7. Favorite book?
    Again, I have a ton of favorites, but right now I really love Me Before You and I'll Give
    You the Sun.
8. Favorite color?
    Purple and gray
9. Favorite animal?
    Domestic animal: dog // Wild animal: otter
10. Favorite perfume?
      Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black (Bonus: My favorite normal scents are vanilla,
      coffee, cherry, and peach.)
11. Favorite holiday?
      Thanksgiving and Christmas
12. On a scale from 1-10, rate your childhood.
      I'd give it a solid 8. It was really great, but school was hard for me. I spent most of
      my time by myself.
13. Have you ever been out of the country?
      Yes, I went to Ireland two and a half years ago. It was amazing. It's definitely my
      favorite place I've ever been.
14. Do you speak any other languages?
      I can understand basic Spanish, but I'd probably have a hard time responding if
      someone spoke to me.
15. Do you have any siblings?
      Yes, I have one younger brother.
16. Favorite store?
      I love Target, and Forever 21 is great for cheap clothes - I love to turn over my closet
      pretty regularly.
17. Favorite restaurant?
      I don't know if I have one. I like to try new places.
18. Do you like school?
      I'm in college right now, and it's okay. I'd rather be done, but it's something I have to
      stick with. I need something to fall back on in case my bakery dream falls through.
19. Favorite YouTubers?
      Oh goodness, there are so many. I love Cupcake Jemma, the Ballinger family (all of
      them), Buzzfeed, and Zoella, just to name a few.
20. Favorite movie?
      Grease is the one I have to watch every time it's on, so I think that makes it my
      favorite.
21. Favorite TV show?
      I love most shows on Food Network and TLC, but I also love any of The Bachelor
      shows, especially Bachelor in Paradise.
22. Mac or PC?
      I have a PC, but I'm thinking about making the switch to Mac just because that's more
      practical for what I do in school.
23. What phone do you have?
      I have an iPhone 6 with a cute pineapple case.
24. How tall are you?
      5'7"
25. Do you have any pets?
      Yes, I have a shih tzu poodle named Darius, even though we barely ever call him by
      his real name.

Please let me know if you have any other questions (within reason, of course), post suggestions, etc., and let me know a little more about you in the comments, I'd love to learn more about you guys!

I wish you all the best,
Erin

My Nail Care Routine + Top 10 Summer Polish Picks

Hello friends! I don't know about you, but I absolutely love painting my nails. Here's how I keep my nails in peak condition plus my top 10 nail polish picks for the summer:

The Care: I paint my nails once a week, so it's super important that they stay as healthy as possible. I make sure they're always clean and trimmed so they don't break, and I make sure I use a special tool to remove surface ridges to make the polish apply smoothly (I like the four-sided bricks with a file and three-step smoothing sides). But most importantly, I always, always, always use a base coat - it keeps the polish from staining and damaging the nails - and a top coat to keep everything lasting as long as possible.

My Summer Top 10:

• Julep "Hope" - This white-hot polish is a satin finish, so it looks semi-matte when dry. Adding a normal top coat will take away the matte finish, so I always use a matte top coat with this color.

• Essence "Don't Be Shy!" - This neon yellow-green is one of the colors from the gel line, so it's super glossy.

• Essence "Indian Summer" - This is another from the gel line, and its neon pastel coral color makes it a true summer hue.

• Sephora Formula X "Power Source" - This neon red is what's on my hands right now, and it's survived about a week with minimal chips. (The picture is of a sample, hence it's tininess.)

• Sinful Colors "Lie-Lac" - This pastel purple is a perfect transition from spring into summer.

• Sinful Colors "Amethyst" - This is a darker, mid-tone purple, so it's great when I want something darker but still fun for summer.

• Julep "Bailey" - This is my favorite shade of blue for nail polish (especially for the Fourth of July - very patriotic). The only downside is that it's very gelly and sheer, so it takes a few coats to build up to the full color.

• Revlon Colorstay "Costal Surf" - This bright sky blue has an amazing brush - it's a bit flat and wide, so it covers the nail like a dream.

• Essence "Play With My Mint" - Can you tell I like the Essence gel polishes? This minty blue-green is bright enough to hold its own against more neon summer colors.

• Julep "Winter" - Despite the name, I think this super light gray is the perfect alternative to true nudes that are popular in the summer.

I wish you all the best,
Erin

Sweet Spot: The Essential Baking Toolbox

Hello friends!  I've been super into my baking lately, and I've really gotten the chance to figure out the essentials I need to make amazingly impressive desserts and treats. I keep everything I have separated into four categories and stored in four clear bins for easy access and storage, so I'll go box by box and tell you what's in my essential baking toolbox.

The Tools Toolbox - This is the box where I keep the mechanical stuff that I really only use for baking. My top picks are:

• Silicone baking mats: These are great for baking cookies and scones; usually I like cookie sheets with parchment, but I hate cutting it down or risking it burning over the multiple uses it takes to make a full batch of anything. These are the perfect solution to that.
• Disposable piping bags: I absolutely love the look of piped icing, but I hate cleaning piping bags with a passion. These let me get everything done, then just cut the tip out and toss the mess.
• Piping tips: For me, only two piping tips are absolutely essential: a round and a star, preferable larger and open. They give the looks of classic cupcakes and elegant, swirly cupcakes.
• Palette knife: The essential tool for cake frosting. I like to have two; a large straight one for the sides and a bent one for the top.
• Ice cream scoop: These are essential for equal portions in baking. I like the ones with the squeezable handle that shuffles the dough or batter out, and I use them for everything from cookies to cupcakes to scones.
• Cake leveler: This tool looks like a saw and is used similarly to even out risen cake tops. As long as its feet stay on the table or countertop, your cakes will be perfectly level every time.
• Electric hand mixer: This is the most essential tool of the bunch - most everything starts with a creamed butter base of some sort, and this makes it so much easier than trying to do that by hand.

The Edibles Toolbox - This box has all the edible things I don't keep in the pantry: sprinkles, food coloring, extra vanilla, etc. My top picks are:

• Food color paste: Food color paste is much more concentrated than the liquid stuff, so it ensures your baked goods turn out the color you intend (goodbye, pink watermelon cake!).
• Sprinkles: I like to keep a variety of sprinkles on hand. Good for cakes, yes, but even better for cookies - Dip any raw cookie dough (sugar is always my pick for this) into sprinkles, bake as per normal, and end up with schnazzy cookies that were no extra work at all.
• Candy melts: I always have a bag of candy melts on hand (usually just the basic white because I have a box of candy-specific coloring). You never know when you'll need to make a white chocolate ganache or whip up some Oreo truffles for a party.

The Cupcakes Toolbox - I'm going to be very honest, this box is 99% guilty pleasure buys. The entire box is full of any cupcake liner I will ever need, which I will probably never use up in my lifetime. But I'll give you my top picks to be ready for any occasion:

• Basic colors: If nothing else, you need white liners, but I also really love the basic colors for their versatility.
• Patterns: Also very versatile, I love patterns for more plain-looking cupcakes.
• Holiday/theme-specific: These are the smallest group I have, but it's nice to have liner with balloons for birthdays, ornaments for Christmas, etc.

The Presentation Toolbox - This is the box where I keep all the little bags, boxes, and toppers to make my treats extra cute, especially if I'm gifting them. Here are my top picks:

• Individual cupcake boxes: I love making giant cupcakes for people's birthdays, and these are perfect for giving them away.
• Twist tie bags: These have the same basic principal as the cupcake liners - one basic is necessary, multiple decorative are nice to have. I like to have different sizes and I try to keep the seasons neutral because I don't use these as often.
• Large treat boxes: I have a few Christmas-themed larger boxes perfect for giving cookies to people. This is only necessary of you're a bake-aholic like me during the holidays.

I wish you all the best,
Erin

Collective Summer Haul & Lookbook

Hello friends! I thought I'd share some of the pieces I've been collecting for the summer and how I plan on styling them (minimally - I'm always indecisive, so things like accessories will change every time I wear these). I'll link any that are still available, but some of these go back to winter and may not be online any more. Here we go!

Kohl's

• Alice in Wonderland Ruffle Dress in Teatime Blue http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-2442971/disneys-alice-in-wonderland-a-collection-by-lc-lauren-conrad-ruffle-dress-womens.jsp?color=Hearts_Blue

*Shoes: Payless (regular rotating stock)

• Alice in Wonderland Peplum Graphic Tank http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-2443169/disneys-alice-in-wonderland-a-collection-by-lc-lauren-conrad-peplum-graphic-tank-womens.jsp

*Shorts: Dressbarn (linked below), Shoes: Kohl's (linked below)

• Alice in Wonderland Definition Graphic Tee http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-2529066/disneys-juniors-alice-in-wonderland-definition-graphic-tee.jsp?skuId=Disney's+Juniors'+Alice+In+Wonderland+Definition+Graphic+Tee&search=Disney's+Juniors'+Alice+In+Wonderland+Definition+Graphic+Tee&submit-search=web-regular

*Shorts: Forever 21 (linked below), Shoes: Kohl's (many years ago)

• Grayson Threads Ampersand Graphic Tee http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-2542426/juniors-grayson-threads-ampersand-graphic-tee.jsp?skuId=Juniors'+Grayson+Threads+Ampersand+Graphic+Tee&search=Juniors'+Grayson+Threads+Ampersand+Graphic+Tee&submit-search=web-regular

*Shorts: H&M (linked below), Shoes: Target (many years ago)

• Chaps Chelsi Women's Espadrilles (not available online, may be on clearance in stores)

Dressbarn

• Black and White Crinkled Shorts https://www.dressbarn.com/detail/black-and-white-crinkled-shorts/102597617/150

*Top: Old Navy (regular rotating stock), Shoes: Payless (regular rotating stock)

• Signature Fit 5" Lace Shorts in Navy https://www.dressbarn.com/detail/signature-fit-5-lace-shorts/102646147/442

Forever 21

• Crochet-Trimmed Shorts in Black/Grey http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=f21&Category=bottoms&ProductID=2000152482&VariantID=023
• Lace-Trimmed Floral Shorts in Navy/Coral http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=f21&Category=bottom&ProductID=2000133404&VariantID=033 (final sale, only available in XS)

*Top: Kohl's (Regular rotating stock), Shoes: Kohl's (many years ago)

H&M

• Lyocell Shorts in Olive Green http://www.hm.com/us/product/36050?article=36050-B&cm_vc=SEARCH (available in black only)

I wish you all the best,
Erin