Inside My Beauty Bag

A couple of weeks ago, a few of us were enjoying lunch at the food court at Fashion Island, discussing our MUST HAVE beauty products. Things we ideally wouldn't leave the house without. Here is my list.

Burts Bees Citrus & Ginger Root Body Wash
this was a fresh & easy impulse buy, and I dont regret it. It smells UNREAL and makes my skin really soft.
Origin's Checks and Balances Face Wash
this stuff smells like peppermint and its tingly and great.Christian Dior DiorShow Mascara
one of the girls i work with at Anthropologie is a makeup artist, and she thought i was wearing false lashes...thats how good this stuff is. I will never go back to cheap mascara ever again.

MAC Makeup Removal Wipes
oh you thought i washed my face everynight? Ha. Good one. These wipes are so wonderful and feel so silky and luxurious.
Redken All Soft Shampoo
makes my hair super softHealthy Sexy Hair Soy Tri-Wheat Leave-In Conditioner
this leave in conditioner i have used for years and SWEAR by it. I have pretty shiny hair, actually i get comments on it a lot, and i wish i could take credit for it, but its all this bottle.
Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum
cuts drying time in half, smells great and makes your hair feel so silky. Just dont use too much or you will be looking like a greaseball.
Gap So Pink Perfume
grapefruit based smell, so of course i love. I hate anything musky and perfume-ish so this stuff is my perfect scent. I have a bottle of it at home and a mini one in my purse, just in case.and top it all off with a pair of pearl earrings and, of course, a headband!

Auntie Shauna

Tonight while Megan was on a walk and Justin was hometeaching, i was a single mom of 3. i was gchatting with Britt when megan left me with 2 cold, naked boys in a drained bathtub and an infant screaming bloody murder.I got the baby to sleep first (sorry kiddos, its your fault that you let the water out) and then got the boys out when jack (age 4) had the great idea to take a picture of me and lincoln (age 2). Not too bad for a preschooler huh? Im smiley/trying to tell him how to take it THROUGH my smile. But seriously have you seen a cuter Lion?

Brain Dump

-One of my Christmas customers sent me pictures today of her paintings in her house...LOVE IT. I wish everyone would do this. It makes me so happy, and totally weirded out that my little creations are in someones home in Ohio. So weird.

-Um i was going to do a whole post dedicated to the hilarity that was the bachelor last night, but i just don't have it in me. Sideburns, facial glitter, awkward attempted kisses, demands, singing, dresses, hair-dos....man oh man. I just cant get enough of the bachelor.

-I decided last minute to go to Huntington this last weekend to move some stuff into my new place. Ok, its like the prettiest model home. Don't even worry about it, but the front room is furnished with Kobe Bryant's old couches. I mean, they aren't old...you know what i mean. You probably don't want to sit on them too if you start to think about it.

-I'm going on a cruise in May with some of my Huntington friends. HOLLA! Time to seriously thin down. NO MORE EATING.

-I need a job in Orange County. The anthro gig is all set up for my transfer, but that's a one night a week thing and its like 10 bucks an hour so i wouldn't really call it much of a job. Just more of a discount.

-Valentine's orders for paintings are starting to come in...kind of exciting! Including two different Asian couples...i haven't attempted Asians yet so this is kind of fun, right?

-Its cold again in Vegas. That makes me happy because 80 degree weather in January is just absurd. My winter clothes are WAY cuter than my summer clothes so i am wanting to hang onto this coldness as long as possible.

-Last night i worked at Anthro, i hadn't gotten much sleep the night before and was watching the bossman's kids yesterday, so i didn't get ready...so i ran home to change out of my yoga pants and sweatshirt and try and do something with my hair in time for work. So i put on a pair of nice jeans, a fashionable hoodie and a pair of jcrew driving moccasins. My hair was pulled back in a bun, paired with a headband from Anthropologie. In fact the entire ensemble was from Anthropologie, minus the shoes. But its not like they were white trash. Anyway, i thought for sure i looked fine...we have a new dress code and everything i was wearing was against it. BAHAHAHAHAH what the freak? Am i supposed to show up wearing a prom dress? I don't get it.

To freak or not to freak, that is the question

In High school i used to frequent the Classic Jukebox, to us regulars it was "the jukie." Every Tuesday night in the summer, 18 and under night. I LOVED IT. I would put on my tight stretchy bell bottomed black pants from wet seal, and a nice conservative top...and then grab one of Erin's halter tops and change in the car on the way there so my mom wouldn't know i was dressing like a skank. I thought i was so awesome cause my 16 yr old braceface would go with these darling (they really were darling) Seniors from Oakridge. We would dance to remixes of "The Boy is Mine," the nastiest song to date "Too Close" by Next, and another nasty one that was a sactown favorite "The Freaks of the Industry." These are days i am not proud of...

This last weekend i went with some of my friends from Huntington, to a club in Costa Mesa. Its a really classy joint called Annex (not at all classy). Let me just first say, that i am a rusty dancer. I used to have all sorts of rhythm. I could shake my booty like Beyonce (just ask Megan, we used to dance to that destiny's child cd constantly). Dancing used to come easy and now its a struggle. I feel stupid. If you think about it, dancing to a rap song, its weird. Anyway, back to the story...I was the only one who felt this way apparently, because everyone else i was with stepped straight out of a JT video. They took their places on the dance floor and partnered off for some good ol fashioned FREAK DANCING.

I decided to do a little opinions survey among my friends. All of these dancers are great people and friends with similar backgrounds and standards...one is a non-freak dancer, one is a reformed freak dancer, and lastly a straight up FREAK DANCER (we called it freaking in Folsom, its also been referred to as grinding, or so I've heard).

Here are their thoughts in their own words on the matter.

NON-FREAKER:

"Don't get me wrong...i like to get down when i dance. I just don't like to look like I'm semi having sex with clothes on, standing up for everyone to see. I don't necessarily feel like that's what I'm watching when I see others do it...it just feels nasty when a guys up on me. That's all. I will be the first to say I will go to clubs with my husband though. And freak for the whole world to see."

Reformed Freaker:

"I was always a good girl and in Junior High I was embarrassed to freak dance, but i did a little bit. In High school i did, without a second thought about it. By freshman year of high school, i didn't think it was a big deal. I never went to church dances, and we had a lot of school dances. My sophomore year, I met my high school boyfriend by freaking him on the dance floor (it must have been good cause we dated on and off for a while). The freaking continued through high school, and even occasionally at some UVSC dances. Then one day, I don't know what changed, the freak dancing or me. Maybe I didn't see anyone on the dance floor that was "freak worthy" and i hated getting freaked up on by strangers. I will take it back up once I'm married, and occasionally with a boyfriend. But i cant do it seriously now, cause i think its funny."

Freaker to this day:

"I first started freak dancing back in 7th grade. And my mom showed up to pick me up from the school dance and saw me and all my friends doing it, and was mortified. It continued in HS, but it wasn't as bad because I frequently went to state dances. After high school I was 18 and could go to clubs. So that is where i really got down and dirty. I was too young to know what was appropriate. I learned to "drop it like its hot," and my goal was always to have a black guy come up and dance with me, that is when you know you are good. I also learned how to get really low. There was a lot of booty shaking in those days. Then i went on my mission and when i returned i somehow lost rhythm. I still freak to this day, occasionally more dirty than other times. I don't know why i love to freak so much, one day i will have to let it go...maybe when I'm married."

So peeps, what are your thoughts on this? MOM, What are your thoughts, freak or no freak??

im in a weird mood ok? deal with it.

if by chance i ever get married, will someone please direct husband-to-be to this blogpost???

I really want this ring.

INK me

I feel like i have blogged this before, but i'm unsure. Regardless, its worth a mention once more.

Number 1 most attractive thing to me is a clean cut dude with tattoos on his arms.
I have no idea what it is, i dont care what the tattoo is of...I just love them.

As much as i hate to say this, i sort of wish that the no tattoos for mormons rule would of been left out of the 6 B's talk. DONT YELL AT ME FOR IT, im just being honest. Dont worry, the church is still true and im totally cool with just the one ear piercing.

____________________________________________________________________

If there is any, nice, darling, funny, attractive, single, good, Mormon boys out there who went through some sort of tattoo phase...please stand up.

Well Balanced Breakfast

All our lives we have been told that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. That it shouldn't be skipped, make sure its WELL BALANCED.

Well these are all things i agree with and live my life by. Is a Dr Pepper part of a "well balanced" breakfast? YOU BETCHA.

So probably 2, maybe 3 (depends on the weeks activities) times a week, its NECESSARY for me to start my day, not with a bowl of strawberries and cream oatmeal (that would be ther other 4-5 mornings) but with a large dr pepper and possibly a cinnamon roll from the fine establishment, Jack in the Box. Its on my way to the office, and its super fast in the morning. Whoever said Dr Pepper is bad for you is wrong. IT CURES ME, its a Doctor.

Anyway, onto the good stuff. Usually the man behind the retractable glass window is Miguel, with his lip pierced twice who is super chatty and always asks me out. Today though, it was someone new. His nametag said "702??Manuel" NOT A JOKE. I am not sure what the area code and the question marks are for, but they were defenitely there. 702??Manuel i guess thought i was cute because my dr pepper and cinnamon roll were not the usual, $3.76, but they were FREE. I thought it would be my JITBB(jack in the box boyfriend), and i have been wanting to blog about him, so i got my phone ready to sneakily take his picture. 702? thought i had my phone out to get his number...it was kind of some awkward confusion for a minute but its all good cause i am 3.76 richer, and have the picture to prove it.
Thanks 702??Manuel! LOVE YA! (sorry i am never giving you my number, but just so you know, i am always down for a free DP)

Ships, Toast and Stars

I think when i was in 1st or 2nd grade i went on a fieldtrip to Long Beach to see the Spruce Goose and the Queen Mary. Pete thought it would be a good, fun adventure to relive that tour, so on Saturday we ventured over to Long Beach to give the ol' Queen another go. First of all, forgot how it was a hotel. BARF. Have any of you stayed there? Its the weirdest creepiest hotel and it smells like the Pirates of the Carribean ride. No thanks. We went on the ghosts tour which was mildly entertaining thanks to the eager-beaver tour guide and lots of asian tourists. But the real fun came after the tour when we made our way to the top(?) deck. We stopped along the way at a little shake shack that claimed to be famous, but it was more sketchy than anything.
here we find a young latin girl organizing all of the plastic spoons. She took them off the counter and handled each one with her little child fingers. Im sure, very sanitary. (i didnt have a shake. Obviously. I was too busy snapping this beauty with my phone.)

When we made it to the top, we all got up on this ledge to look over into the beautiful, trash-infested waters (sad), and i thought it would be funny to push ashlee as we were discussing how its REALLY far down and any small child could fall overboard easily. So i thought if i nudged her it would freak her out. Well i forgot we were standing on a ledge and took a step back to get some leverage for my shove and fell backwards. In slow motion...for every asian to snap pictures of and laugh at. I probably should have been more embarrased, or embarrased at all...but it was HILARIOUS and provided many laughs throughout the rest of the day.this was post fall, photo by pete.

Since i have never been to LA (atleast not that i can remember), my lovely friends thought it would be fun to show me around. First we stopped by Jills apartment where we met her roommate while she installed a STRIPPER POLE in her bedroom. TRUE STORY. After that adventure, we went to Toast. Ok that place is darling, and so delicious. I could eat the pesto penne pasta with asparagus EVERYDAY of my life.The rest of the tour was me having to pee so bad, and stopping to take pictures next to stars (me and ashlee...pete and jill circled the block) and then instead of peeing at a fast food place Pete had the bright idea to use the bathroom at the Beverly Hills Hilton, where the Golden Globes were hosted previously in the week. We crashed a bar mitzvah and then headed home in Ashlees Rolls.

Just a regular Wedneday Brain Dump

-Headbands are up and ready to be bought....so shop your little hearts out. There is one thats a jcrew/urban knockoff with a big chiffon flower...i think it turned out pretty good, eh? Its 26 bucks at jcrew and 18 at urban and only 10 if you buy it from me...Do that math people, do the math.here is my toe thumb holding up my creations

-I went to lunch today with Kayla, Mark and Jeremy to Whole Foods. Their little food court is absolutely delicious but why a trillion dollars??? Seriously. I could of gotten like 5 McDonalds Snack Wraps for the price of my salad. Also did you know Ed Hardy made water? Yeah, what d-bag buys ed hardy water? They sell it at Whole Foods if you are the D-bag looking for it.

-I've started doing P90x. Maybe you have been browsing the guide on your tv in the early hours of the morning and have seen the infommercial titled "get ripped in 90 days?" Yeah its that. But i dont want to be ripped i just want to workout and sweat everyday. So thats what im doing. I am not a crazy psycho about the program, but if i cant make it to the gym, i pop in one of those dvds and i curse at myself for not going to the gym because they are FREAKING hard. Like im not kidding i cant get out of my chair at work without like doing a weird stretch because my thighs are so sore and tight that all i want to do is get a massage and sit in the hot tub. Why dont we have a hot tub at the office?



here is the video for the ab dvd. TRY IT. I dare you to lay down on the ground and for 15 minutes (its ONLY 15 minutes) do this workout. ITS CRAZY you most likely cannot finish it. Unless of course you are Kayla.

-I was talking to Lindsey on gchat today, how come when you are looking forward to something that weekend that the work week goes by SO slow? Seriously...geez. I am going to huntington on friday night and i could of sworn i was thursday, even though it felt like it should be friday...and i realize its only Wednesday. WHAT IN THE WORLD?

-Speaking of huntington, im moving there. Anyone want to find me a job?

-Still can't stop listening to Taylor Swift. I dare anyone to tell me of a better cd.

-Bossman is having me shop for his kids this weekend when im in Huntington. He says "buy them cool stuff." Seriously...my job is awesome.

-Biggest Loser...Joelle, youre gross. Bob you couldnt be more hot if you tried. Why are you gay and why arent you my husband?

-Speaking of marriage, Derek, one of my bestest friends in the world, got engaged last night to a darling girl named Becky who i have yet to meet but already like via facebook. Cant wait for the wedding in May guys, congrats.

-Why wont my hair grow? Should i get extensions? It was sooooo pretty when it was long.look at that hair! LOOK AT IT! dont you want to touch it? it was so beautiful. Thanks a lot Katie Holmes for tempting me enough with your cute hair to think it would be cute on me....oh man was that a bad move or what.

-i forgot to mention this sooner and i meant to and its still on my mind everytime i pass Cheesecake Factory....Zach and I went for lunch 2 weeks ago and there was a curly dark hair (dont make me say it) melted into the cheese on my bbq chicken pizza. I wanted to die, and almost did. NO ONE EAT AT THERE. Atleast not at Bella Terra, ok?

High Maintenance

i dont mean to keep updating the ol blog like a crazy woman, but thats whats going on...so deal with it.

I dont think i am high maintenance. Well not as a whole. I do my makeup on the way to work, my nails are hardly ever manicured, and i would wear sweatpants everyday if it was socially acceptable. But there is one thing i am such a princess about, and thats my sleep. My bed, or as i like to refer to it, my nest-has to be perfectly perfect or i will toss and turn all night wide awake. I already have a hard enough time sleeping, i cannot throw any other factors into my restlessness. So when i go out of town, or sleep at a friends, i take it really seriously. Queen sized air mattress, usually accompanied by a memory foam mattress topper, a set of good quality sheets, two down comforters, 2 pillows and one body pillow. Maybe some of you think i am crazy, guess what? I dont care! Maybe i am? So what.kelsey thought it would be hilarious to take a picture of me loading up my slumber supplies into my car on the way to church...she was right. Its quite ridiculous. (obviously this was just one of the trips...just the comforters)

hair pretties

who says sitting around watching tv is unproductive? Last night during 24 i assembled quite a few new headbands for my etsy shop. They arent up yet, they will be soon.

A "Vintage" Evening

Just a regular Saturday night....

KR and Rhyll came into town for a day and a half and Kelsey so generously let us use her Saturday night to get our hair did. We gossiped and danced and sang and laughed. It was a very relaxing, great night. Well relaxing for us, probably not so much for Kelsey.
she put me to work to rinse and wash Rhyll while KR was being cut. It was a throwback to my days at Paul Mitchell. It may appear that i love this and was having a ball, but rest assured that i do not miss other peoples hair. Rhyll OBVIOUSLY loves my magic fingers...its true, they are magic. Just ask any of my ex boyfriends. I am a GENIUS when it comes to scalp treatments. Right boys?
Rhyll being sassy. NFPP anyone? (new facebook profile pic-that was for you hailey)sometimes my head detatches from my neck
Oooh la la, KR modeling her new bright blond locks.

Thanks again Kelsey for being so wonderful and giving of your time and your talents. We love you!

(and although there is no after picture of me, i got my hair dyed...level 3, dark brown. HOLLA!)

DONT DO DRUGS

First let me just say that i have never nor will i ever do drugs. That being said, we just had a conversation in our office that i have had a few other times in my life, and one that i find very interesting. If i didnt have the standards i have, would i do drugs and what drugs would i do.

Well for me, this is easy. I would smoke weed of course.
Why?

First of all, have you ever smelled pot smoke? It smells good. Not like the best smell ever but its sweet and nostalgic (of highschool...not that i smoked in highschool, i didnt. i never did...never will. My mom is freaking out as she reads this, i know it). Second, when you are high youre relaxed and having a good time...who doesnt want to have a good time? (Fortunately i am high on life so i dont need to doctor my mood to achieve relaxation or fun)

The other ladies in the office chose speed or heroine or abusing pills. They said they could get things done, maybe lose some weight...so that would be their choice. I think weed is a better choice because taking a pill or a line of crack or whatever...that is SO SCARY-i watch celebrity rehab guys...i know all about crackheads...NO THANKS.

Is this a weird blogpost? I promise i am never going to smoke ever. I dont even want to. This is just all hypothetical.

ALSO I DONT THINK ANYONE SHOULD EVER DO DRUGS AND I ALSO THINK ALL DRUGS SHOULD BANISHED FROM THE EARTH.

Bon Voyage '08!

last year i did this and im doing it again...strap on your boots.

The best things of 2008:
1.Moving away from Utah, to Vegas.
2. Working for the best company, the best boss, and with the best people.
3. Financial Stability and getting out of debt
4. Starting to paint again and actually make a living doing it.
5. Car purchases (i love the mini minivan. RIP saturn, may you burn in hell)
6. Getting a new nephew who is so teensy and adorable you could just die
7. Getting back into shape with the help of a magical inhaler
8. Learning Photoshop. I feel like my skills as an artist have come full circle now.

The NOT SO best things of 2008:
1.The purchase of the dolphin-nosed Saturn
2. My doctor getting his license to prescribe medicine taken away (sketch-doggy dog)
3.No holidays in Folsom
4.My hair being in the forever awkward-length

2008's best movies, according to me:
1. Seven Pounds
2. Baby Mama
3. Dark Knight (i know, totally not one of my usual picks but its good)
4. Sure it was STUPID but i LOVED the House Bunny....partly for Glade's cameos but mainly it was so funny.

Favorite Things in 2008:
1. Fresh & Easy Grocery Stores
2. Magical Inhaler
3. Detox from sleeping pills
4. Being able to watch all of my tv shows online whenever i want
5. Diet Dr Pepper

Things that sucked it up in 2008, and basically ruined the year:
1. Ballet Flats that curl up in the back like elf shoes (technically thats a 2009 thing since i am wearing them for the first time today, but for the sake of the post, its going on the list...THE KILL)
2. Twilight fans
3. David Cook winning American Idol (im still totally pissed about this)
4. Friday Night Lights being only on Direct TV (so retarded)
5. Heidi and Spencer

Favorite songs of 2008:
1. No Air -Jordin Sparks ft. Chris Brown
2. Foundations - Kate Nash
3. Sky - Joshua Radin ft Ingrid Michaelson
4. Keep Breathing - Ingrid Michaelson
5. Human - The Killers
6. Breathe in Breathe out - Mat Kearney
7. Forever - Chris Brown

just a few thoughts...

-i know this is totally late news but Taylor Swift's new cd is so darling. I was talking to Hailey earlier today about it and she said it perfect..."shes just so kindred. I feel like shes my best gf." Amen Hailey. Amen. Seriously, track 3, Love Story...its been on repeat for about a week in my car.
-This is not a new realization but something that i was reminded today of on my lunch break...if you own and wear a pair of Oakley's with metallic/iridescent lenses-you are a tool.
-I don't know what i did before my sister introduced me to McDonald's Chipotle BBQ Chicken Snack Wraps. Seriously. Rhyll says they are made of fake meat. Pieces of chicken molded together with grill marks so that they look like real chicken. She is convinced and she has almost convinced me of this...which would RUIN my diet. Someone tell me its real chicken...please.
-I'm finally going to buy some new running shoes....the Nike shox just aren't cutting it. I am looking at Asics and Mizunos...any specific model i should track down?
-Job perk #759, my car is being detailed as we speak....love it.
-Linsey is going to finally help me get around to making those anthropologie scarves. I bought like 50 bucks worth of flannel, had envisioned these beautiful homemade scarves for Christmas gifts and totally dropped the ball. So tonight after spin class, I'm heading to north last Vegas and we are finishing those damn things.
-New Bachelor started last night. I'm pretty disappointed, not going to lie. Jason is just so boring and these girls seem pretty snooze-a-thon as well, besides the tranny widow.
-Is it just me or is "The City" the length of a long movie trailer. Its not like THAT enjoyable that time goes by so fast...its literally the shortest show i have ever seen.
-Has anyone ever bought a used macbook besides Doug? I am debating between new or used, and i need an expert to give me advice.

Sadie Hawkins 2009

bosses wife brought the babe in this afternoon. When she wasn't looking i took him to the sadie hawkins dance. You can tell he is LOVING it.
i realize i look like a crazy person, and everyone rest easy...we do casual MONDAYS in the office, i dont usually dress this way to work

Boring post not worth the read

went to Huntington again this last weekend. Do i live there? basically.


New years was not that exciting, which was awesome. It was just up my alley except that we went to some huge lame stake dance-ish thing. I hate those. I would of been so content to just sit at Michael and Randy's house and do nothing. Coronado Island is the most picturesque place and i am so jealous that they live there.

New years day i headed up to Huntington to find all of my friends sleeping...i got there at like 1, they were out. Turned out KR had some massive ear infection (lovely) and Rhyll decided that her nap should last until 9pm. I took a shower and got ready for dinner out, and dinner out consisted of the Carl's Jr drive thru and the Albertsons redbox. HOLLA! The rest of the weekend got more fun but it was still lazy and lovely and i wonderful. I love Huntington. Vegas is for sucks.This is the only picture i have from the whole week...(looks like i am going to be buying a new camera, cause what the freak are those lines?)

Rhyll and i had a conversation where we discussed what our most frequent wardrobe purchases are and obviously mine was turtlenecks and tights, and hers was scoop necks...here we can be seen modeling those items (tights not shown, but were worn)

Happy New Year!

Happy New Years from Michael Paul on Vimeo.