Last Day in Mexico!

This morning I woke to the most beautiful sunrise and had to capture the moment to share with you all!

If you have been missing my normal beauty and fashion posts, don't worry they will be back in the next week! :)

xoxo Jess

Another Beach Day in Mexico

Baja California

I'm on vacation in Mexico with my family for the holidays and my brother and I decided to take a walk on the beach this morning! Here are some snapshots of what we saw.

My brother!

Mexico for the holidays

My happy place

Best Nail Polishes For the Holiday Season

Today I posted a new video on my YouTube channel featuring my picks of the best nail polishes for the holidays!! Check it out: http://youtu.be/h0szkHBJtR0

What are your favorite polishes right now?

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

So I am not normally a huge fan of sweets, but I do have a soft spot for a good chocolate chip cookie. I'm talking soft on the inside, slightly crunchy on the outside and packed with gooey chocolate chips. These will be the hit of any holiday party you take them to. Sure they may not be fancy, but there is something amazing about a classic cookie that is done well. Enough talk, let's get baking!

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Ingredients:
2 1/4 c all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 c (2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature (trust me, make sure it's room temp.)
1/2 c granulated sugar
1 c packed light-brown sugar
1 tsp salt
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 c semisweet or milk chocolate chips


Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In a small bowl, whisk the flour and baking soda and set aside. In a larger bowl, combine the butter with both the granulated and brown sugar and beat with electric mixer on a medium speed until light and fluffy. Lower speed to low and add the salt, vanilla and eggs. Beat until mixed, about one minute. Add flour to mixture and mix until combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Place heaping tablespoon-size balls of dough about two inches apart on baking sheets. Bake until cookies are golden around the edges, yet still soft in the center (8-10 minutes). Remove from oven and let cool.

*Note: I halved this recipe and it makes about 24 cookies.

DISCLAIMER: I did not create this recipe, I found it online a while back and have just adapted it a bit to make it my own. :)

xoxo Jess

Tis' The Season to Sparkle

Looking to add a little sparkle to your holiday season? Look no further than this dazzling polish that will brighten up any winter blues. OPI's "My Favorite Ornament" is packed with fine gold and silver sparkles that create an opaque splash of glitter on your nails. I particularly like this color because it's more of a champagne gold making it not too gold and not too silver. This pretty polish will get you through the holiday season, as it is perfect for Christmas and also New Years!

Christmas Merriment!

A view from the street

To get in the holiday spirit, my cousin and I visited this nugget of Christmas extravagance! 

Inside the garage. Complete with a working train set.

This house is known in the area to be all decked out each year with copious amounts of lights, plywood sets, lawn ornaments and even an entire miniature village in the garage coated in snow.

Close-up of the driveway

Part of the front lawn

From the life-sized nutcrackers guarding the entrance to Santa's sleigh heading off the roof, there is no room for any Ba-Humbugs!

Me in the amazingly decorated sleigh!

On our second stop, we checked out another wonderfully decorated home. There was a life-sized sleigh for pictures, which I obviously had to sit in, pretty lights and a flashing sign for Santa on the roof.

Cute flashing sign on the roof

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy thanksgiving y'all! Remember to think of all the things you're grateful for in life. There's so much to be thankful for! :)

Mexico Photo Diary: DAY 4

Today we headed home from Mexico which was sad, I mean who really wants to end a vacation? The drive home was pretty uneventful, but I'm leaving you with two pictures: one of the giant marshmallows they have in the grocery store we went to in Mexico and the other picture is of the sunset last night when we got home!

Xoxo Jess

Mexico Photo Diary: DAY 3

Today's post isn't going to be packed with pictures because honestly I only took photos of the sunrise...again. But today we ventured into town to shop! I bought gifts for people for the upcoming holidays and also some bracelets for myself. Below is a picture of the bracelets I picked up. It's becoming a bit of a tradition for me to get a few bracelets and wear until they fall off.

Today is our last day here and I'm sad to leave, but we are heading back home tomorrow.

See y'all tomorrow! xoxo Jess

Mexico Photo Diary: DAY 2

It's day two and today we woke up to the most beautiful sunrise! We spent the morning eating breakfast burritos, drinking tea, reading and soaking up the sun. In the afternoon we went to look for arrowheads and artifacts where one of the native indian tribes previously resided. We didn't find anything too special today, but we did see a lot of animals throughout the day including the large tarantula in the last picture! It was just walking along the beach and was the largest tarantula I had ever seen in the wild. We also saw a fox, a mouse, Ospreys, Sand Pipers and many Vultures.

Beautiful Sunrise

View from our patio while sipping tea and reading

Spotted a tarantula on the beach

Day three will be coming at you tomorrow so check back! :D

xox Jess

Mexico Photo Diary: DAY 1

Hola from Mexico!

I am in Mexico for the next few days on vacation with my family and I wanted to share each day I am here through photos. Today's photos encapsulate our journey down here from start to finish! So buckle up y bienvenidos! :D

Snow on the distant mountains near San Bernardino, CA

Audrey Hepburn in Mexico :)

He was doing fire-weilding tricks in front of the intersection during red lights!

Beautiful mountains in Baja California! 

San Felipe, BC

We have arrived! Our little round house on the beach!

Got a little muddy during the off-road sections of the highway.

Welcome!

Pretty sea shells

Stay tuned for day two tomorrow!

xoxo Jess

First Impressions: Walgreens Beauty Haul

Hey Beauties!

Last week I posted a picture of my Walgreens Beauty Haul and then I filmed a video showing what products I got and my first impressions of them! Check out the video HERE or click the picture below!

What are your favorite drugstore products?

xoxo Jess

Tag: Questions and Answers

What is your current makeup obsession?
I am currently obsessed with the Urban Decay Naked palette and Naked Basics palette. I also have been loving slightly winged cream eye liner-it's my everyday go-to eye look.

What are you wearing today?
Jeggings from American Eagle, riding boots from Target, a white long sleeve top with thin black stripes from Forever 21 and a feather down vest from Patagonia.

What is your current fashion obsession?
Jeans and boots! I am loving that combo this Fall.

Hair?
I have been loving curling my hair lately and also just letting it dry to its natural waves.

Do you nap a lot? 
Hardly ever! I have to be either not feeling well or stay up way too late otherwise naps never happen for me.

Why is today special?
Because I have people who love me and a wonderful life :)

What would you like to learn to do? 
Hmm I've always wanted to learn how to play the guitar! I got a smaller guitar for Christmas when I was little and always wanted to learn but I was too impatient to put the time in.

What's for dinner today?
That is a good question, I am not entirely sure.

What are you listening to right now?
The little river outside my moms office.

What is your favorite weather?
I love the rain...I'm that person that opens up all my windows when it rains just so I can hear and smell it even when it's freezing cold.

What's the last thing you bought? 
An iced green tea from Starbucks!

What are your essentials when traveling?
Besides the obvious things like I.D. and wallet, I always have to have books, music and a camera.

What's your style?
My style is always evolving based on what inspires me.

What is your most challenging goal right now? 
Trying to follow my dream of being a writer for a magazine or creating my own magazine.

If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
I'm not too sure, I haven't been enough places yet to know what I really love. However, it would have to be along the beach and have a warm summer and cool winter.

Favorite vacation spot?
Mexico! I have been traveling down there with my family since I was a little kid and I love it.

Name the things you cannot live without?
My computer (basically everything I do is online- work, writing etc.)

How was your childhood?
Magical and full of love :)

What would you like to have in your hands right now? 
A thriving and successful magazine that I created! Who would read it?

What would you like to get rid of? 
Anxiety and doubts.

What are you most excited for?
The endless possibilities that life holds!

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go? 
Ahh I really want to travel through Europe! England, France, Spain, Italy, Greece and more!

Which countries have you visited? The only other country I have visited is Mexico which is amazing, but I would love to see more of the world :)

Sparrow Magazine

Hi loves!!

Did you know I had created my own magazine earlier this year? I interned for a travel magazine and wrote for them for nine months and I wanted to start my own magazine! I love writing and have always dreamed of writing for a magazine and helping people through my articles. I had stopped making my magazine because I didn't have access to the right software but I am seriously considering purchasing the software to start creating issue again. What do you guys think? Would you read or subscribe to my magazine?

Check out the two issues I made earlier this year, I would love to hear suggestions! Thanks!

JULY ISSUE                                         MAY ISSUE

            

New Covergirl Flamed Out Shadow Pencil Review

In lieu of yesterdays post, a review of the Covergirl Flamed Out mascara, today I am reviewing the Covergirl Flamed Out Shadow Pencil. I have seen mixed reviews of this eye pencil but I actually really like it. I used the shade Melted Caramel Flame which is a pretty bronze metallic color so this review is based purely on my experience using this particular shade.

Photo Courtesy covergirl.com

Pros:

-Soft and creamy pencil that glides on smoothly.

-Feels a little wet when applying and is easy to blend and smudge until it's set.

-Once set, it doesn't budge until you take it off-even without using primer which is seriously impressive.

-Doesn't crease.

-The Melted Caramel Flame color is a really pretty metallic bronze.

-Easy to apply, just "draw" all over lid.

-The bottom twists up so there is no need to sharpen the pencil.

Cons:

-It's too light in color and too chubby of a stick to use as an eye liner so it's more of an eyeshadow stick.

-Because it is so soft, some people found that when they pressed too hard the tip broke off.

New Covergirl Flamed Out Mascara Review

The Rundown:

"Make a bold statement with winged lashes that curve up and out. The unique wire brush coats your lashes for an instant volume boost." 
-Covergirl

I believe this mascara is part of Covergirls "Flamed Out" series which is in their Capitol collection - a new line of products that are inspired by the new movie in the Hunger Games trilogies: Catching Fire. I also picked up a shadow stick from this collection that I will be reviewing later this week.

Photo courtesy covergirl.com

The Reality:

Packaging 3/5 stars

The packaging is a little odd. The tube is much shorter and rounder than any other mascara I have used. I understand the concept of "flamed out" but the 'flames' on the tube look like tiger stripes to me; it's fun looking but also a bit garish. However, where the packaging really fell short for me was the wand. It has the odd hourglass shape which makes your lashes clump together at the ends forming a triangle of some sort (the lashes are separated at the roots, but come together to make a point at the tips) which just looks really odd. The more I tried to get the tips of my lashes separated from the others, the more they clumped together. The brush tends to pull all your lashes towards the middle of the wand. I also didn't like how the mascara would glob and build up on the bottom and top sections of the wand.

Staying-Power 4/5 stars

My lashes stayed put pretty well throughout the day. The curl drooped a little but it wasn't too bad. I just wish my lashes were more separated from the wand when I applied it that morning. Also, the formula is more of a thicker sludge consistency.

Price 5/5 stars

As far as drugstore mascaras go, this one hits at about an average cost of $6-$7.

Lives up to its claims 3/5 stars

Due to the thicker sludge consistency of the mascara it does coat your lashes well however I can't get past how much I detest the brush. I'm not entirely sure what Covergirl meant by "winged lashes" but my lashes do stick together at the tips creating a triangle/maybe winged effect.

OVERALL 3/5 stars

I am not the biggest fan. I will continue to play with it and test different ways of using it, and will post an update if my opinion changes. However I don't think it will. I really don't like the brush because it just makes my lashes look odd...who wants lash triangles framing their eyes? I have seen that Covergirl recently launched a Flamed Up Mega Curl mascara which features a different brush that might work better. All I can say is that I do not enjoy this hourglass wand and would not recommend this mascara.

xoxo Jess

Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes Review

Today I wanted to review the Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes because the skincare aisles are plagued with makeup wipes from every brand with every benefit imaginable which can make finding the best one for your skin difficult. I have combination, acne-prone and extremely sensitive skin. Most face wipes make my face really red and burns a little. These Simple wipes are meant for sensitive skin and they really are a savior.

Photo courtesy simpleskincare.com

Pros:

-Doesn't irritate my face.

-Takes off every bit of face and eye makeup.

-Does not break me out.

-I can use these in lieu of cleanser if in a rush or traveling and my face is perfectly fine.

-The seal on the packaging stays sticky throughout the life of the product! (I hate when the seals lose their stick and never close).

-They're not drying or greasy.

-My skin feels so nice and clean after using these.

-They're easy to find at drugstores.

-Around $4.99 for 25 wipes.

Cons:

-The cloth is a bit rough, but it still doesn't irritate my face.

-They're not very wet. I store mine face down which helps but sometimes they feel almost dry. They still work though and sometimes I will get them a little damp with water and they still work. (I am on my second package and they are the same way so it wasn't just a faulty batch.)

Bottom Line:

I love these! If you have sensitive skin and find most wipes irritating try these out! They're amazing and I will continue to purchase these.

Simple also has exfoliating wipes, oil balancing wipes, and radiance wipes if your main concern isn't sensitive skin.

Sunset