Crafts: Dead Fish Hat

My brother loves argyle and has forever been asking me for a Dead Fish Hat. I have a hard time doing projects where you just knit for several inches. One day I was struck by an idea, an ARGYLE dead fish hat. I was knitting the fins on Christmas eve eve. He loved it. He wears it sideways to cover his ears which makes the fins uneven, but hey it's his hat.







He gets my sense of style too.

Did you make any handmade items for Christmas? How were they received?

Beauty: New Years

There is so much to overwhelm you as the new years starts. I've already got a plateful and my apartment needs a good cleaning. I'll also be out of town for the new year.

How do I plan on being more beautiful this new year?

This year I want to go into the new year primped and ready.

Tonight and tomorrow I'm going to find the time to exfoliate, paint my nails (all 20), and just pamper myself. I want to go into new years feeling amazing!

What about you? Do you have new years plans or traditions?

Look for my resolutions just after midnight of the new year! 

Schedule Changes: Adding Thursday: Health

The current Schedule is:
Monday: Review
Wednesday: Pictures
Friday: Beauty
Sunday: Craft/Baking

As the new year approaches I, among many others, are considering weight loss as a resolution. I know why I fail. Easy food is rarely healthy and the gym isn't open when I get off work (around 11, I'm a second shifter). I don't get up early enough to go before work. I could keep naming things but you get the idea.

Another reason I fail is lack of accountability. There is no one pushing me or slapping that bavarian cream filled doughnut out of my hand. This is where you guys come in.

I tried this in November and I went to the gym once and ate better for about a week. Which is not good enough.

My life has gotten to the point where my regular jeans don't fit and some of my bigger jeans are too tight. It's time for a change. SERIOUSLY.

If you are trying to loose weight in 2012 I'd love to feature you on a Thursday (or if I have enough people it could be a weekly Tuesday thing).

I consider myself to be about 30lbs overweight. I need to weigh in and figure out exactly how much I want to loose. I'm also going to be setting challenges for myself.

January: NO FRIED FOOD! I get 3 cheat items (not meals, items).
              Gym once a week. It's not big but it's a start. I may be joining a 24 hour gym.

Structure and barriers have always worked better for me.

I'm not sure if I want before/ after pictures of me on the internet but I'll be posting my weight and amount loss.

So after the new year we will see how it goes.

TL;DR
Resolution: Weight Loss. Blogging about on Thursdays

Photos: Merry Christmas!

With a baby around for the first time in almost 2 decades, he was the center of attention. 

HTS!: Geek Chick Site and Sale

HTS = Had To Share and when I saw this I defiantly had to!

I have bought almost exclusively from Geek Chick since I started buying indie cosmetics. I don't intended too, but something about their products REALLY draw me in.

They just redid their site! It's BEAUTIFUL! Their new pictures are just breath taking. I definitely spent a few minutes just ogling them.

They also mentioned me on their site :O
( I'm on the bottom right)

They're also having a winter sale!!!!

I just wanted to thank them for:
1) Putting out a recklessly good product
2) Linking me on their blog
3) Being amazing!
4) Always being quick to answer my questions.

You guys are just the best! Thank you!

So... now I'm going to go decide what to buy with my Christmas money!! Their sale ends when the new year begins.

Review: Skyrim

I'll admit, I'm not a huge gamer, but I am a huge nerd and I own a few consoles (all hand me downs).  One of them is a PS3. I've played Infamous one and I'm working on Infamous two, but when Skyrim came out I was all aloof. That was until I saw my boyfriend play it. It was massive, expansive, a whole world on one disk! It feels like your playing WOW or some other MMORPG, but really it's just you.

Every little thing you do effects the game.

I'm only 5 hours in (because I'm playing on my boyfriend's copy) but it's mesmerizing!

There was a glitch when it first came out. If you already had a save on your PS3 and then created a new character it would overwrite it. When I first started it happened and Andrew's 60hr game went poof. :/ Now we save back ups on thumb drives. The new patch for ps3 might have fixed it, but it doesn't hurt to be cautious.

I'm playing as a wood elf. Do you play? What are you? What do you think of it?

Beauty: Geek Chick: Timey Wimey

 Although it's Christmas season, I'll admit, I bought one Black Friday thing for myself. I decided on the brand new Timey Wimey (Dr. Who) eyeshadow set from Geek Chic. When it arrived I was having a CRAZY busy day. I tore it open took some pictures and did some sloppy swatches. When I went to make my post I just couldn't post those swatches. They didn't do it justice.

I loved that Geek Chick seals their eyeshadows. I never have to worry about my shadow getting unscrewed and all over the place. These are my FIRST full sized shadows I've boughten from Geek Chic and they're wonderful.

 Not only is their product great, but each set also gets custom labels. TW for Timey Wimey in the style of Doctor Who. LOVE IT! Great design work! If you look you can also see that it's sealed in plastic. It's a wonderful touch.

I also got coupon codes! SO AMAZING! I will be splurging with some Christmas money soon! I've got my eye on some Codex foundation!

 There are eight shadows in all for the Timey Wimey set and my sample was from the Portal set - Companion Cube.

The names of the shadows are
( First Row) We Are Coming, Sexy in Suspenders, Bigger on the Inside,

(Second Row) Untimely Love, Don't Blink, Bad Wolf, 

(Third Row) Exterminate!, and Yes, Sir.







I did my swatches in the same order as the above shadows.
 ( First Row) We Are Coming, Sexy in Suspenders, Bigger on the Inside,

(Second Row) Untimely Love, Don't Blink, Bad Wolf, 

(Third Row) Exterminate!, and Yes, Sir. 

I feel like most Geek Chic eye shadows, well most indie eye shadows, have this quality that store bought shadows lack. They look different from different angles. There is so much thought put into the way as well as the what. That is why I have several different angles of my hand posted.

I love how Exterminate! looks brown but at this angle you can see the gold sparkles just light it up! 

Sexy in Suspenders and Don't Blink are two of my favorites. I was wanting a good silver and then BOOM Timey Wimey came out. It's like they knew! Don't Blink is very sparkly and light. Sexy in Suspenders looks so tan at first but then the sparkles break through and it's a whole new shade. 

It's a wonderful collection! I'm so excited to finally have some Doctor Who themed make up! 

What do you think? Are you much of a 

Who-vian? Who is you're favorite? 

My boyfriend and I like Rory. So much so that his cat is named after him. 

Photos: St. Charles Christmas Wonderland

Review: The 2011 Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

I'd heard lots of poor reviews of the new Sherlock Holmes, but I was dying to see it anyway. I love the way Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law play on screen together.

This movie was NOT a disappointment. At times it was a smidge confusing. I have a hard time remembering new faces and there were some slightly mentioned characters that became important characters. I had no idea where they came from.

I heard complaints that this movie was very homoerotic. There are times when Sherlock treats Watson with a bit too much love, but having been in platonic same gender friendships I can understand. I too have become second choice to a friend when it's hang out with me or their spouse. Although Sherlock takes it to an extreme it is a movie. Watson really is his only friend. I think Sherlock was justified in his actions.

The camera work was delightful. There were the slow motion scenes where Sherlock calculates his next move. Slow motions explosions as expected.

Then there was something unexpected. The shot is hard to explain. It happens when they are running away in the woods. If you have watched this movie what did you think of this type of shot? It took me by surprise. It was a weird tracking shot where the head of person wouldn't really move in the frame, but everything else would. One could call it very artistic, but for me I found it completely entrancing.

Overall it was a blast to watch. There were several OH NO moments and others where I didn't know I was holding my breath until the moment had passed.

I feel like this movie ended on kind of a Tom Sawyer note. (That's me trying not to give away any spoilers.)


Have you watched it? What did you think? If you haven't seen it, do you plan on seeing it?

Crafts: Christmas Sewing preview

 This year I decided to sew my own Christmas outfit. Since Christmas isn't here yet this is just a teaser!

I am on the right and my best friend since 5th grade is on the left.

She is a master seamstress!

She also has adorable pets. (She and her husband built this!)

 I didn't take any pictures of us sewing and I couldn't tell you why. Expect all the good details after Christmas.


Have you ever sewn anything before? I've made a few small things.


I took all of these pictures and then post dated this post.

Beauty: Indie Style Awesome Box!

It's here! It's here it's FINALLY HERE!!! I vaguely remembering setting my alarm for 9:50 waking up in time to buy this Awesome box when it went on sale at 10am on December 1st. I say vaguely because I fell asleep right after ordering. I woke up to my computer staring at me letting me know I'd left it unplugged. I was worried I dreamed it all until I saw that I had a confirmation email.











Indie Style was developed by the blogger known as Grey (writter of LeGothique). This is the first Awesome Box to be released. It only cost $15 and is considered to be a mini box.

Even my package had the indie style label!

Inside my box was a sweet little package from Grey and the Awesome Box wrapped in tissue.

Inside the gift bag was a cute little Christmas ornament hand made by Grey and a candy cane (not pictured).

 There were scads of treasures and my boyfriend was making fun of me as I squealed in delight at each one.

 I, of course, went straight for the hot pink tissue paper with a rainbow on it.

These most wonderful earrings were made by EM Jewelry (etsy and store envy). She included a little note to let buyers know that there is a matching necklace in her shop. My earrings are so cute, I'm wearing them right now.

 I've heard a lot about Evil Shades Cosmetics but haven't tried them yet. Now I will

The sample clam shell contains GOLD LIPSTICK! It's called Power Up!

 Innocent Twisted (store envy and etsy) was the next sample I squeed over. I'd not heard of this company but their eyeshadow, Hidden Present, was so fanciful.









Innocent Twisted is the green eye shadow. It has PINK sparkles. The gold on the right is Evil Shades.

 One Hand Washes the Other is another company I think I've read about. The solid scent is AMAZING. I'm not good at identifying scents, but it's smells warm and Christmasy. It's called 1605. I'm also wearing this today. My boyfriend loves it!

 I LOVE Geek Chic cosmetics. Even though I've bought very few indie eyeshadows, MOST of them have come from Geek Chic.

 Luckily I only have Across the Narrow Sea and I'm excited to have more.

Here they are swatched. First is Katamari King, a beautiful light pink. Next is Solid Snake, dark with a lot of sparkles to catch the light. Last is Across the Narrow Sea, teal with a green/ gold shimmer.

I recently bought Timey Wimey and will blogging about it FRIDAY (finally.)


I LOVE everything in this Awesome Box and most (if not all) of the companies included, had promo codes on their business cards!!  Pretty excited about that! The gift that keeps on giving!

The next box goes on sale January 15th for $24!

What did you think of this Awesome Box? Would you buy one in the future?
See any companies you might try?