January 17 check in

If there's anything that I should do to be more successful in completing my goals, it's to be consistent and to actively track myself. I kicked off 2017 with bullet journaling and it has been very useful in organizing my tasks, and making me realize my priorities. Probably my favorite part of my bullet journal so far is my Habit Tracker.

 I picked 4 major categories to go along with the major focuses for the new year. I really enjoy that it's quick, easy, and accurate enough to let me know when I tend to do things, and how often - thus the name, Habit Tracker. For example, I notice I tend to read in clusters while I tend to write/blog more scattered throughout the month. I certainly need to actually get off my butt to work out more, but it's good to see I'm more consistent in spa time to take care of my skin.

January for me has been a month of tarot cards, job applications, and prioritizing myself - taking care of myself, putting more value into my own goals, and doing more of what makes me happy. I started volunteering again, except in a different capacity - writing. It's opened me to new skills, heightened my sense of service and broadened my scope to alternative ways for passive income - maybe I can get into freelancing?

I thought of tarot cards as something fun to do in my spare time, and it is. But it also was sort of a tool to help me sort out my thoughts and to combat my over thinking. Whether you believe in tarot cards or not, it did help point out some things about myself that I was either unaware of, or didn't fully recognize until it was right in front of me.

January is only the first month and the start of many new things. It's been a pleasure, despite the political unrest towards the end of the month (and I know it won't end anytime soon). But I leave January with gratitude in my heart and a better sense of priorities mapped out in my head.

Bye January!

-Chelle

#tbt Wayfering 026 :: Minneapolis, MN

Back last June, my cousin and I went to visit a friend her birthday in her hometown in Minneapolis. It was full of the St. Paul Zoo, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, a kick-ass view from our airbnb, food, and lots and lots of happy hour.

Brunch and mimosas whilst exploring the city by foot and by metro.

Rooftop dinner with a sunset and some pretty good steak salad.

Supporting local restaurants with creative flare, like this one.

The St. Paul Zoo with this little cutie, and the most adorable baby gorilla I had ever seen in my life.

Being overwhelmed with the Mall of America. Stores, movie theaters, an amusement park, mini golf, an aquarium, it was all overwhelming. Of course there's more happy hour.

More happy hour, with chicken soup that was so spicy it made me cry, and trying arepas for the first time.

This little donut shop that had a lot of personality.

The Minneapolis Institute of Art (I wish I had more pictures but they are lost somewhere on my hard drive...)

Literally Happy Hour every day and we regret nothing.

Did I mention our view from our airbnb?

The mid-west was good to us in its own way. If I were to go back I'd want to tackle maybe canoeing on one of the the Great Lakes, or maybe road trip around the state. Anyways, hope you enjoyed my little throwback. Thanks ladies, for the memories. 

Have a great day!

-Chelle

#projectpan 01 :: (warm) Winter

I was on Instagram the other day and noticed a friend of mine is participating in something called #projectpan (check her out here). As in the title, it's a project that aims for you to hit pan on your products. Like any other beauty junkie, we either realize we have too much make up when it's too late, or we don't realize it at all and continue to buy more (what is this thing called "too much makeup?"). I love make up as much as the next person, but I can't continuously go on buying more when I barely use what I have.

I decided to try #projectpan by season. That way I can:

1. organize what I have

2. stick to a main color palette

3. rethink and step outside my box

Pick something old and pick something new.

Re-love what you used to love, and use what you want to love now.

Considering the winter in Massachusetts this year has been pretty warm (definitely not complaining, it's so nice compared to previous years), I've been feeling more light-colored/neutral eye make up with bold/dark lips.

Eyeshadow - My first obsession. Two old palettes (Too Faced Chocolate Bar and Sigma Warm Neutrals) to pull browns and neutral jewel tones; and two new palettes (Lorac Pro 3 and Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance) to pull pinks and golds.

For my base, I do not go full-face. I don't own any foundation; the only thing I like to use is concealer for the monster bags under my eyes. I've recently been loving the Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer in Medium Golden. Since I do have dry skin, especially in the winter, I prime using the Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eyes Primer. One thing I don't go overboard on is bronzers, so the Tarteist Contour Palette takes care of under eye banana powder, and contouring/bronzing shades. I have other powders for when I want to bake under my eyes, but I will try to prioritize using this palette.

Considering it's winter, and my skin is a little dryer, I need to utilize my cream products more often. I usually favor powder products, but there are a couple cream products I want to use more. For blushes I've selected a pink (Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Blushing Bride); a mauve (Urban Decay Afterglow Blush in Rapture); and a bold burgundy (Sephora Cream Blush in Fuchsia flash). For highlight, I wanted a cool-toned taupe-y color (Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Sandstone); a more natural glow (BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Poured in Rose Gold); and a stark bright contrasting highlight with a tiny pop of iridescence (Colourpop Super Shock Cheek in Monster). 

Using older lip products, I know this is going to be a challenge since I have discovered liquid lipsticks. I know I will use those, but can't leave the old ones in the dust. One thing I really need to use up are my lip glosses. I bought the Bite Beauty Deconstructed Rose Lip Gloss Library before I figured I'm not much of a lip gloss person. A little stupid, I know, but oh well, I need to use it. I've horribly neglected it and I feel bad never reaching for it. As for the traditional lipsticks, I picked out a non basic neutral (Kat Von D Foiled Lipstick in Forever & Never), a brown-pink (Too Faced La Cream in Pink Chocolate), a dark burgundy (Charlotte Tilbury in Glaston-Berry), and a flattering red (Cargo Cosmetics in Paris). 

Hopefully since I'm sticking to a main color palette, I'll start to experiment and add to it. Nudging myself to stick to fewer products will make me deviate a little here and there and see what I can work with instead of going to the same look with different palettes and products. Skincare is another monster entirely that I'll tackle later. That's just basically trial and error, so not much to say on that.

I also want to say that I will not buy anymore products until I use up more, but I won't ask for miracles.

Have a fabulous day!

-Chelle

#tbt Wayfering 025 :: NYC for July 4

Throwback to July 4 weekend 2016 when I went to visit a friend of mine while she was interning for the summer in Sleepy Hallow, and we took advantage of the location. 

 Not much has changed, as we still don't cook much and are still living like college students.

We can boil water.

 We can chop things and put them together.

 We can throw things into a blender and press a button.

We were lucky enough to find an Airbnb in the Financial District, so were close enough to things like the 9/11 Memorial, Soho, and metro access to Times Square.

We were able to get the last reservation that day to Sugar Factory in the Meat Packing District.

SoHo, where we had brunch at Chalk Point Kitchen, shopping, and tea time at L'aduree.

Times Square and my first Broadway Musicale (it was magical).

Climbing the Brooklyn Bridge in the sweltering heat to get the view from DUMBO (and my first time trying shake shack).

After almost choking from dehydration walking Soho to Hudson Peir 25, we couldn't get a table on any restaurants on a boat. But we were able to enjoy some oysters at Dorlan's Tavern and Oyster Bar before catching fireworks.

Yes, I ate a lot of burgers that weekend haha and it was amazing. 

One weekend is simply not enough to fully experience the city, but I'm grateful to have done what I did. Next time maybe I'll finally make my way up to the Empire State Building, or see more of DUMBO. SoHo I would definitely visit again, and maybe see another Broadway show. Anyways, it was a nice little summer trip to think back on while in New England Winter.

o-o-o-o-o-o

Have a great day!

-Chelle