Rouge Louboutin by Christian Louboutin: A Love Letter

Let's not pretend, here.

The second I saw that Christian Louboutin was going to create a beauty line, I was all over that. All over that. I knew it was going to be exuberantly expensive, to the point of sheer ridiculousness. But, as someone who considers herself almost a connoisseur of luxury beauty (to the extent that a student on a...flexible, let's say...budget who lives nowhere near a Neiman Marcus or Nordstrom can be considered one), I knew I'd have to get something. I had no idea what the line was even going to consist of, but I knew I just had to have it.

Enter Rouge Louboutin. A classic Louboutin-sole red nail polish in an 8-inch bottle that's simultaneously an objet d'art and a lethal weapon for whatever unplanned lobotomy finds its way into your day.

I got myself on the Sephora notification list ASAP when I saw this, unsure about whether I would feel comfortable spending $50 on a nail polish. My brain said no but my heart said It will be at least 4 years until you can afford a pair of Louboutin shoes, self, so what's a $50 nail polish in the grand scheme of things until then? This will be worth spending two weeks eating nothing but cereal. I got the email a short time later. I bought it immediately. It was sold out by the end of the day.

First things first, the bottle. It really is unbelievable. The glass itself is very, very solid...no worries about shattering this sucker. It wouldn't be right to ignore how gorgeous this bottle is, because that's part of the appeal. It's something I keep out instead of with the rest of my polish, partially because it won't fit but mostly because it's just beautiful and awesome to look at. The brush itself isn't, in my opinion, nearly as unwieldy as it looks. My fingers fit right into the little groove around the base of the handle, and I had no trouble using it whatsoever.

The formula is a dream to apply. It's smooth, patent-shiny, and is opaque in one coat. I use two coats anyways, but I'm an overachiever. One is enough.

A caveat: Nail polish has a very difficult time lasting 24 hours on me. Doesn't matter whether I've got a base coat/top coat/whatever. Cheap or drugstore polish usually chips well before 24 hours, high-end might last a little longer if I'm not flailing my hands into things or whatever I do that makes nail polish and I frenemies. Essie lasts ~16 hours before I have tip wear or have a chunk or two missing, Chanel gets ~24-36 hours before the same tip/half-nail-chunk problems. And when I'm talking chipping, I'm talking at least a third of the polish coming off at once. It gets pretty unpresentable pretty quickly.

I did not have to change this nail polish for five days. 5 days. 120 hours. I got very very minor tip wear around day 3, but I didn't lose enough to make me want to change it until day 5 (and even then, the amount that had chipped off was substantially less than what I normally get after a day and a half of high-end polishes, and only on one or two fingers instead of seven or eight). I know Christine over at Temptalia had the opposite luck that I did; she experienced shorter wear than usual, and nail polish is certainly a product that wears differently on different people. But on me, there was no denying it. It's the best nail polish I've ever used. Ever. Hands-down. Nothing has ever worn so well on me. It's a real, true A+ product for me.

Will it be for everybody else? Probably not. It's definitely a dupeable color. I know that's a stupid amount to spend on nail polish, of all things, and lord knows I could never judge anyone for being like, "NOPE, you crazy," because that's also true. I've been known to make bad life decisions for the sake of beauty products, and nobody ever should follow my lead. But do I regret it? No way. It's not only the product (which is phenomenal), but the vibe of the whole thing, with the heavy gradient glass bottle and 8-inch-long spiked handle. It's luxury. That's the point. It's over-the-top, grandiose, and I love that shit. I live for it.

Bottle size comparison with Chanel (both are 0.4oz product)

I'm boring, you know? I go to school and do science all day and then work/gym and if I'm feeling fancy I'll make something in my breakfast sandwich maker for dinner or thaw some chicken and...do something with chicken. Nothing about that is glam. But that's why I love makeup, and prestige/luxury makeup in particular. It's the experience, the packaging, the colors, the textures. Rouge Louboutin is the epitome of that. If it came in a crappy plastic bottle or even something basic or boring? I'd be pissed. But if you're going to sell a $50 nail polish, you'd better crank it up to eleven, and I think that's exactly what they did.

It's sold out I think everywhere at this point, but 30 new shades (!!!!!) are coming in September. There are 10 neons, 10 dark and vampy shades, and 10 neutrals. I sure don't have the funds to buy them all and my heart is broken and devastated over it, but let's just say I'm on that email notification list for when they come in because I need at least one more. It'll be a little Sophie's Choice when I have to pick, but we all have to make sacrifices.

ipsy August Glam Bag Review!

Long time no blog! Between getting everything set up (sort of) in the new apartment and managing to survive orientation week and week 1 of my 4-year PharmD journey, I've been busy, tired, obnoxiously full of migraines, and generally boring. But! I'm back and with some new beauty stuff! First off, the ipsy Glam Bag. Next is probably (hopefully) Rouge Louboutin, the new Christian Louboutin nail polish that I splurged on, but first things first. To the Glam Bag!

This is, believe it or not, my first beauty subscription. I know, right? It's probably because I'm kind of a beauty snob and had such bad experiences with drugstore/lower-end products; why would I want to pay every month to get stuff I didn't want or wouldn't work on me? I'm happy with my luxury and prestige brands because they work with my uncooperative skin. I'd heard good things about ipsy, and I decided that I'd give it a try for a month or two to see how I liked it, hoping that I'd be impressed enough to keep it going.

The August Glam Bag was my first one after getting off the wait list in mid-July, so I really have nothing to compare it to other than my own expectations. All of the samples were pretty small, some a little bigger like the deluxe samples or 100pt Sephora rewards. The bag itself is okay; I'm not a fan of orange but it's cute.

ipsy August Glam Bag

• Klorane Dry Shampoo
• Jersey Shore Sun Lip Conditioner
• Dr. Brandt "pores no more" Primer
• J.Cat Beauty Eyeshadow in "Half Naked"
• Urban Decay Perversion Mascara

My first impression was "...meh" and it's still hovering around there. The dry shampoo seems interesting and will, at some point, be tried. I've always wanted to try one, so that's a positive. The lip balm and eyeshadow were my least favorites and will probably get zero to very little use (the lip balm...even though it smells lemon/citrusy...is more likely, just because I always lose and eventually re-find the ones I have and like). The one thing I was pretty thrilled with was the Dr. Brandt primer! It's something I had tried before and liked, even if it's not leaps and bounds above my usual Smashbox/Laura Mercier primers. I remember it being pricey after finishing up a sample, and primer lasts me too long to get anything larger than small travel sizes, so I never picked up the full bottle. The texture is really smooth and unique, and this will definitely be used and probably emptied.

Urban Decay Perversion Mascara

Now, the mascara. This was clearly the BFD sample in this bag. I love Urban Decay. They're one of my favorite brands. But mascara and I don't get along. It's always been me vs. mascara. I've tried everything from drugstore to Dior, and every single thing ends up under my eyes within an hour or so, waterproof or not. Diorshow really broke my heart because it looked stunning when I put it on, but I was full-on raccoon clown within an unacceptably short period of time. My lashes just hate mascara. I currently use...and love...Blinc, which is that weird tube mascara that some of you have probably heard of. It doesn't smudge under my eyes at all because it is a miracle product. Granted, you sacrifice some of the big glamorous lash look, but it stays put until I take it off and that's pretty impressive.

I decided to give the UD mascara a try and wore it to work today. It was on for 11-12 hours and the verdict is: definitely not bad at all! It smudges tons less than basically every other mascara I've ever tried. There's still some under my eyes, but a whole lot less than I expected, which is pretty darn impressive. Very little smudge, actually. Overall, if I weren't me with my eyelashes, I'd give it a two thumbs up and probably use it. I still prefer Blinc because it's completely smudgeless, and Perversion didn't give enough of a "bigger, blacker, badder" lash to overcome my need for apocalypse-proof makeup, but I'd rank it second above everything else I've ever tried. And that's saying something.

I'm going to give ipsy another month before I make a decision on whether I want to keep subscribing or not. Like I said, I'm very "meh" on this bag, but not unimpressed enough to not give it another try. Here's hoping that next month's Glam Bag is a stunner!

Back to the Gym and Some Savory Soup

When I get overstressed, things tend to fall to the wayside. Over the past year or so, my gym time has definitely suffered. On the contrary, my "Kim Kardashian: Hollywood' skills have grown remarkably strong as of late.

I'm trying to get back into the groove of things, which can be tough when you've lost a lot of strength (and the bruised ego that comes along with it). Yesterday was a bench press day, which I hate because it's my worst lift and I have to adapt to lower weights until it picks up. Lately I've been going by feel because I'm unsure of where I'm at. Benching especially sucks because you have to start at the bar, which is 45lbs, and I don't have a lot of room to add weight at this point until I regain strength.

• Bench: Warmup sets of 5 with the bar (3 sets), increase by 5lbs until sets of 5 become difficult
• Dumbbell Rows: 3x15
• Tricep Pulldowns: 3x15
• Clean&Jerk: 3x5, done with little rest in between sets to build endurance
• Elliptical HIIT

Somewhere between unpacking more so I'm not living out of boxes for six months (which, given the opportunity, I will do), I made a batch of easy chicken minestrone soup in the slow cooker, which I put straight in the freezer so I have four meals ready whenever I need! I meant to snap a pic but it slipped my mind, but trust me...it looked (and smelled) delicious. Adapt this recipe to as little or as much as you want. Hate beans? No beans. Lots of celery? Go crazy. Need three times more noodles than normal people? I feel you, let's do it.

Simple Crockpot Chicken Minestrone

• 1lb boneless chicken breasts
• 4c chicken stock/broth
• 1 28oz can of undrained diced tomatoes (I get mine "Italian", already seasoned with basil/garlic/etc.)
• Veggies of your choice - onion, celery, carrots, potatoes, whatever works for you!
• Beans if desired; cannellini or even red kidney beans work well
• Noodles if desired: I use mini shells (1 cup or more, however noodly you like it!)

Stir the chicken (leave whole or cut in chunks, it doesn't matter), broth, tomatoes, and veggies into the crockpot. If you use something like zucchini or beans of any sort, don't put that in quite yet...save it until after. Throw some salt, pepper, or Italian seasoning in if you'd like, and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low from 7-9 hours. If you left the chicken whole, it will be tender enough to pull apart.

Stir in beans/zucchini and, if you plan to eat the whole thing immediately, noodles, and cook for another 10-15 minutes. If you plan on freezing it, let it cool to room temperature, add the noodles, and immediately freeze. This way, the noodles don't end up mushy blobs when reheated. I'd assume you could do the same with the beans as well so they don't get overly soggy!

Dior Addict Fluid Stick in "Kiss Me" and Sephora's Summer Surge!

As some of you know, from August 3-10 Sephora is holding their Summer Surge event that multiplies your points with purchase (with some additional goodies for those who qualify!). Beauty Insiders get 2x points, VIBs get 3x points, and VIB Rouge gets 4x the points for every purchase you make this week both in-store and online, no promo code needed. The girl I spoke to yesterday said that there will be special rewards going up online, although I haven't seen them yet. VIB Rouge...if your store still has them in stock...also gets a little tote and a makeup bag with samples. Mine had some of the usual throwaways, like perfume or mascara that doesn't work on me, but there were a few really great ones including a Laura Mercier Radiance Primer, Benefit Watts Up! highlighter, and Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Styling Treatment.

Summer Surge VIB Rouge Goodies!

I spent a lot of time wandering Sephora yesterday but only ended up with one thing (for now): Dior Addict Fluid Stick in "Kiss Me".

Dior Addict Fluid Stick in "Kiss Me"

I love love love this formula (also the darling packaging, how cute!), which is somewhere between a liquid lipstick and a gloss. "Kiss Me" looked like the perfect conservative shade to try out for school, a muted cool-toned pink. It's very close to a MLBB shade, but a little lighter. Because it is a lighter shade, it does settle into lip lines a bit, but nothing really noticeable unless you're up close, so definitely not a dealbreaker for me. Wear time is about what you'd expect from a gloss/lipstick hybrid.

"Kiss Me" - No Flash

"Kiss Me" - Flash

The no-flash swatch is definitely more true-to-life, if a little warm-toned...it's definitely not bubblegum pink, but the flash highlights the coolness of the color.

You can pick up "Kiss Me" ($35) or any other Fluid Sticks wherever Dior products are sold, but like I mentioned, Sephora is running that great Summer Surge event so it's definitely worth checking out there because of the 2x/3x/4x points offer!

Happy National Lipstick Day!

Because, obviously.

I always was (and still am) more of an eyeshadow person, but there's nothing like a fierce lipstick. A good lip can make or break your whole look, and I'm a firm believer that a bright lipstick equals a brighter day. Whenever I need to feel badass, I throw on a great lipstick; a bright pink, a fuchsia, a summery coral, a bold nude, a statement red. I know it can seem intimidating at first to wear an intense lip out, especially if you're not used to it, but from personal experience it brings out self-confidence that you may not have even thought you had!

Choosing a favorite lipstick is a little bit like choosing a favorite child, if you had, say, a hundred children. Yet there's one that I always have tucked away in my lipstick basket for those moments where I need to feel like, yeah, I'm a bad bitch. I bought it hesitantly, not just because it was pricey (lord knows I have no problem with that, I say as my wallet cries) but because I wasn't sure the color would suit me. It immediately became what I affectionately refer to as my "power lipstick". I use it rarely and for special occasions...I wore it to my college graduation, for example...because it's a little like my special secret weapon. Insta-fierce, just add lipstick.

Behold, Tom Ford "Violet Fatale":

You can't even see the "TF" in the lipstick anymore because it's so well-loved. I was afraid it would lean too purple on me, but it's just pink enough for me to pull off. Tom Ford has one of my favorite lipstick formulas, probably tied with Guerlain Rouge G, though they're both very much splurge purchases and I can't blame anyone for looking at the prices and shaking their heads. However, both formulas last essentially all day and sit comfortably, two things that I rarely find together in a lipstick, which is why they're top-tier products for me.

Guerlain Rouge G in Grenade from my Instagram

I had a longer "Celebration of Lipstick!" post planned, but that's going to be another time! I hope everyone celebrated National Lipstick Day, and if you haven't yet, there's still time!

What's your favorite lipstick?

Reanimating the Frankenblog: It's Alive!

I swear I'm going to start blogging again, with all of the blame directed at my friend Beth (whose blog Epise of Cake you should check out, y'all). Things are hectic right now...I'm moving this Wednesday and have basically nothing (read: actually, literally nothing) packed, or clean, or organized so no guarantees on how regular posts will be until things get set up and in some sort of routine, but I'm hoping this will help get me back on track with, well, life.

On the personal front, things with the boyfriend went pretty south...we're kind of "separated", not together but not really single, I guess?...and I'm living on my own next year. To say it's been devastating is an understatement. The past few weeks have been rough to say the very least, and I'm trying my best to get through them in one piece. I had to find an apartment on really short notice, and it's really at the very end of my budget, but I'm trying to stay optimistic.

However! I did get into pharmacy school and have orientation starting August 11th and classes starting the 18th, which is pretty cool and something I'm trying to use as a big positive to balance out the whole avalanche of negatives I've been bombarded by as of late.

The gym spent a lot of time at the back of my mind being so busy, and I'm working on getting back into that. I've lost a lot of strength that will hopefully come back at least moderately quickly. It's tough not to feel discouraged when I go.

I do have a whole ton of new makeup, though (of course), and look forward to making a whole bunch of great posts about that! I also have to learn how to dress myself because there's a dress code for school, and that will be an adventure.

To end things on a wonderful note and not just a wall-o-text, here is Waffles just doing Waffles.

My Lips...But Better

Every beauty junkie has her own personal mission to find the ideal, everyday lip product that just works with her natural lip shade, enhancing it without concealing it. In the beauty world, this shade or shades is referred to as MLBB...my lips but better. As much as I love bright, flashy lipsticks in fun, bold colors, there are plenty of times where I need a MLBB shade to either bring attention to the rest of my face or just for an everyday coverup. I can't tell you how many times I've gotten a ferret nip right on the lip that I want to just erase!

As of right now, I've found four amazing products that achieve that MLBB look, so I decided to do a fun little writeup of the products that I love and reach for often! My favorite four are:

• Guerlain Rouge Automatique in 100 Apres L'Ondee
• Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar in Memento
• NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Sex Machine
• YSL Rouge Volupte Shine in 08 Pink In Confidence

Guerlain, OCC, NARS, YSL

Guerlain's Rouge Automatique is a sheerer formula than their legendary Rouge Gs (which are one of my favorite full-coverage lipsticks ever), but it does a great job enhancing the natural lip color without overpowering it. The super-convenient packaging is also one of my favorites...slide the little button up and the lipstick pops out the top! 100 Apres L'Ondee is very close to my natural lip shade, so it's definitely a go-to for me!

OCC Lip Tars are fantastic, opaque, long wearing liquid lipsticks. You just need a little dab of liquid to cover your lips, and the formula will set and stay put for hours and hours. Memento is a rose-mauve that is slightly brighter than my lips and is definitely very opaque, but it's the only long-wearing full-coverage shade that I can put in the MLBB category so I love it for days when I won't have time for touch-ups.

NARS Velvet Matte lip pencil in Sex Machine was my very first MLBB color, as you can tell from the picture because it's certainly well-loved. I adore the simple pencil application, which is why this is a makeup bag staple for me. It hides all of the little flaws in my lips while giving a smooth, matte finish that is natural but lovely. I always, always have this one in my bag.

YSL Rouge Volupte Shines are sheerer but extremely hydrating lipstick that feels like a balm gliding on and leaves a wonderful shine. It's probably the most moisturizing and comfortable lipstick formula I've ever worn. 08 Pink in Confidence is a glossy MLBB shade, so it's perfect for days I want a subtle but shiny lip.

Guerlain, OCC, NARS, YSL (no flash)

 Guerlain, OCC, NARS, YSL (flash)

As you can tell, each shade has its own look that I can use to enhance when I'm not feeling a statement lip (which happens, I swear). Some are sheerer, while some are more opaque. I love all of them, though, and they each get heavy rotation in my makeup roster!

Feel free to share your favorite MLBB shade!

A Personal Post on Weight, Self-Esteem, and Hating the Way You Look

Today's going to be a bit of a personal post, which is something that I hesitate writing.

I struggle a lot with my weight. I'm never happy with the number on the scale, or what I look like. With the summer spent at home, I'm finding myself about 12-15lbs heavier than I usually am, and that's been stressing me out to the max. My clothes don't really fit anymore. I hate what I see in the mirror. I've even been putting off going to the gym because I hate the feeling that I'm the "fat girl at the gym". I liked it when I was more petite, going to the gym and lifting weights and feeling badass because I was so small lifting pretty big for my size. Now, I almost dread it. My gym clothes don't fit the way I like. My weights aren't nearly as good in regards to my size. I feel silly, stupid.

Realistically, I know I'm not medically overweight, even when I'm on the "heavier" end of my weight fluctuations like now. I'm "normal", which is something I cringe saying when I so desperately want to be "small". I also know that I'll probably never be content with what I look like. But the thing with severe body image issues (and the related disordered eating), is they can be...as silly as this sounds...debilitating. I find myself so depressed and anxious that I don't want to do anything, and that takes its toll on every aspect of my life, from the gym to my relationship to school. Food is not something you can just quit. You're stuck with it to survive. And it takes over your mind where it's all you can think about. Food, eating, how you look, how you feel like your fat rolls are pouring over the top of your pants.

I'm trying very hard not to resort to "just don't eat". For anyone who doesn't have experience with eating disorders, that sounds kind of ridiculous, but to me it sounds like such a "safe" and simple way to drop the weight I've put on, plus a little more. But I've worked so hard on my lifts to get where I am (which still doesn't feel like very far!), that the thought of my lifts going down so significantly is also unsettling. I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place; I can drop the weight unhealthily and get back to where I feel a little better about myself, but all of my hard work will suffer. Or, I can eat healthily and lose the weight slowly while keeping my lifts relatively stable, but deal with the tremendous anxiety of not losing enough weight right this moment.

It's going to be tough...trying to eat healthily but still enough, which my brain keeps yelling at me is too much too much. I just want to feel better, in every sense of the word, physically and mentally.

I'm going to post a few pics, which makes me uncomfortable, but that's the point. I have to get over that.

Deadlift day

New lipstick! Le Metier de Beaute in Thailand

I know I don't ever get a lot of readers, or comments, but if anyone has any advice, or stories to share, I would love to hear from you!

Tomorrow I'm planning a my-lips-but-better lipstick post, which is exciting!

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Native

By now, most of you (or probably all of you!) have heard of Urban Decay's new Revolution lipstick line. With 22 fantastic shades, there's one...or more...for everyone. I fell in love with, say, at least half of them, and picked a few to try out the formula and I've been nothing but impressed! One of my most-used shades is the light pink Native, which works as a nice pinky-nude on me.

Gorgeous, isn't it? The packaging is a sleek purple-gunmetal, which is always lovely. The formula itself is creamy but not too thick, a little bit thinner than Too Faced's La Creme formula and with more slip.

Native (with flash)

Native (no flash)

As you can tell, it's definitely one of the lighter colors in the range, but for those of us who are crazy pale, it's perfect perfect perfect for a no-fuss goes-with-everything lip. Being such a light color, this shade in particular doesn't wear as long as the brighter colors (which have unbelievable wear time), but it's quite long-lasting and the formula isn't drying whatsoever so it's a dream to wear.

Native and all of the other shades ($22) can be purchased from Urban Decay's site, and all of the shades minus the two exclusive to UD's site (Protest and Strip) are at your local Sephora!

The apartment has finally come together (I think) and I've successfully finished the first week of what's hopefully my final year of undergrad. Lots of nonsensical courses that I'm stuck taking that aren't related to my major, but I'm hoping to push through and still have time to prepare for the PCATs!

As a congratulations-to-me gift (or two), I snagged a Rebecca Minkoff tote and two pairs of shoes from HauteLook...which I'm shamelessly pimping because I got fantastic, fantastic deals...and a bit of a makeup haul from Sephora and Nordstrom including OCC Lip Tar in Memento, some nail polishes, and Le Metier de Beaute Colour Core lipsticks in Thailand and Ibiza. Despite being a LMdB fan, I've never actually tried their lipstick formula (probably because I have so, so many lipsticks already), so I'm excited to give it a whirl!

My busy-day essentials

OCC Lip Tar in "Queen" - love!

I'm trying to get all my work for the week done during the long weekend so I can have time to not stress and sit at the door waiting for all my boxes to arrive!

Alive!

It lives! Moving was the biggest hassle...everything went wrong, from the truck to the internet company screwing us over to the boyfriend leaving his phone in the truck and having to drive home the next day to get it.

The place is still a mess, even though it's been almost a week! We both just have SO much stuff. Yesterday I picked up the ferrets, who are now living in their new giant ferret palace that I put together for them. I think they like it.

We may have found a gym, which is awesome because it's a great price and very close. Nothing around here has bumper plates except for one gym very far away and, of course, crossfit gyms. Crossfit isn't my thing for a few different reasons (in particular, the cost), so I was delighted when the girl at this new gym said I could bring my own. I may pick up a pair of 10lb ones just to work off of for cleans and whatnot.

Just a quick check-in...school starts for me next week but at least I'll finally be in a routine instead of a constant chaotic scramble, so hopefully I can get to blogging regularly!

Things I Love: Le Metier de Beaute Lip Creme

As an apology for being so sporadic lately, here's a fun beauty post!

Le Metier de Beaute is one of my favorite brands, and has been ever since I first discovered them. I was first enamored by their eye kaleidoscopes (which are still a staple for me!) and the rest is history. I've been known to call other cities and other states to get my hands on counter exclusives. I could wax poetic about my favorite LMdB products for ages...don't get me started on Creme Fresh Tints!...but today I'll be focusing on their Lip Creme formula.

Described as "a hybrid of gloss and lipstick", Lip Cremes span that whole spectrum, from the sheerer shades all the way to the brightest and most pigmented. They have a light, glossy texture that slides on smoothly and is never thick or sticky.

Le Metier de Beaute Lip Cremes in (L-R) Creme de la Creme, Sweet Creme, Peche Creme, Fraise Creme, and Red Velvet

Creme de la Creme, Sweet Creme, Peche Creme, Fraise Creme, and Red Velvet (With Flash)

 Creme de la Creme, Sweet Creme, Peche Creme, Fraise Creme, and Red Velvet (Without Flash)

I unfortunately only have these five, but as you can see they're perfect for layering, a little kick, or a big bang. One of my favorite things about Lip Cremes is how hydrating they are. I hate when a lipstick or lip gloss...particularly after they've been worn for a bit...seem to leave your lips a bit sad and dry. Lip Cremes are one of my favorite if not my very favorite in terms of moisture. My lips never, ever feel dry, even after I've had them on for hours. In fact, they may even leave my lips a bit softer!

Lip Cremes can be found at your local LMdB counter if you're lucky enough to have one, or online at the usual retailers: Nordstrom, Saks, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman.

Catch-up Post, New PR, and Some Personal Stuff

I know I promised I would be better about posting! I've been out of town probably three times in the past five days, including a four-hour drive to IKEA (the nearest one!) to get some last-minute apartment stuff. Moving day is Saturday, and I still have so much to do.

On a better note, today I upped my deadlift and hit another PR...190lbs! I tried for 200lbs but it was a bad pull from the beginning for some reason. I knew the second I grabbed the bar it wasn't going to happen. I think if I'd had a normal good pull, I would have hit it, but I'm definitely happy with 190!

I am a bit worried about the weight I've put on over the summer. I've struggled with eating issues in the past (understatement of basically ever), so this is really bothering me. When I'm really down about my weight, it affects everything in my life. I don't want to do anything, I want to stay inside, and of course that sadness just makes me eat more. It's a really terrible cycle. I had spent the last school year being moderately lean with pretty good intake, but the second I got home it just went downhill.

My chaotic and inconsistent schedule over the summer combined with the "donuts for all meals are okay" attitude of my house has been hell on my body in many different ways. I can't say part of me didn't love the splurge...most of ED past revolved around sweets and baked goods as comfort for my anxieties, and that calming feeling I get when I have a cupcake or chocolate bar hasn't really gone away despite years of therapy...but then there's the aftermath. That's the worst part. And once that cycle begins, it's hell to get out of, particularly when you're in an environment that fosters it. I know that once I move I'll be eating clean and have a better schedule, but until then I'm just trying to make it through. I feel like I just have a million pounds of fat to lose, and I do have plenty of muscle under there so I think I'll look okay once I lean out. It's just a lot of extra worrying that I don't need right now, you know?

Anywho, this week will be hectic, but I'll try to get some posts and pics in! I do try to post on my Instagram more often, so check that out!

"But I can't NOT buy them!"

Yesterday was one of those horrid gym days where nothing goes right and you miss sets you shouldn't be missing. It's extra awful when it happens on squat days, because those are usually my best days!

So as a consolation, today I went to the mall to pick up a few things. In particular I wanted to grab shampoo and conditioner from Carol's Daughter, which I had gotten as a sample from my last Sephora order and immediately fell in love with. My hair feels cleaner, smoother, and less tangled. However, going into Sephora for one thing never means leaving Sephora with one thing...

Along with the shampoo and conditioner, I picked up Clinique Wash-Away Gel Cleanser, which is one of my go-to products (that I'm almost completely out of, so I considered this an essential purchase!). I wear tons (TONS) of makeup every single day, and this is the only thing that gets rid of it in one shot. It's fantastic, and the bottle lasts me about a year.

The more...spontaneous, let's call them...purchases were slightly more fun. Urban Decay Revolution lipstick in Native is a lovely light pink-nude that I sampled the other day and found extremely flattering on my quite pale complexion. All Sephora by OPI nail polishes were on sale (3 for $10) so I really couldn't resist grabbing three. I thought I was set, but in the queue I spotted some OCC Lip Tars, which are something that our store has never had and I've never had a chance to try! After rummaging through the quite picked-through selection, I decided on Stained Gloss in Rhythm Box. I'm excited to try it out!

After an intense afternoon of shopping, a milkshake break was necessary. My favorite indulgence (maybe ever) is Cold Stone Creamery's Oreo Creme Filling ice cream. If I were on death row and had to choose one final food to eat before I died, it would probably be this. It's so rich and so delicious. It had disappeared from the stores for a while, but it's suddenly reappeared and I simply couldn't resist.

Definitely excited to start the new week with some new makeup (and I have a box from Urban Decay to pick up tomorrow with a clearance eyeshadow palette that was an incredible steal!), because I have lots of packing, cleaning, and PCAT reviewing to do!

Friday Fabulousness: Favorite Pink Light Lipstick

No, not my favorite light pink lipstick (that's a whole other post!), but my

Favorite Pink Light Lipstick

To me, there are a few different types of lipstick. There's the full opaque formulas (such as Tom Ford or most of Guerlain's Rouge Gs), and then there are slightly sheerer, not quite as heavy ones. Guerlain's Rouge Automatique and YSL's Rouge Volupte Shines are two of my favorite "lighter" formulas. Rouge Automatiques are less slippery and balm-like than Rouge Volupte Shines, so they do tend to last longer but are not quite as moisturizing. I do love them both, but today's post will be focusing on my favorite Rouge Volupte Shine: 6 Pink in Devotion ($34).

YSL Rouge Volupte Shine in 6 Pink in Devotion

As I mentioned above, this formula is more of a lipstick-balm hybrid than a straight-up lipstick, yet it's more pigmented than a tinted balm such as Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment. It also leaves a lovely, glossy finish. Pink in Devotion is described as a "bright hibiscus pink", which I think describes it spot on. The sheerer formula allows for a bright color to be worn in a more subtle way. I think it's a great "beginner bright" for those who aren't quite ready to go full-on in-your-face! The formula is so smooth, and although that comes with the downside of a shorter wear time, it's tremendously comfortable and moisturizing. There is a slight fruity scent, which personally I love but may be a dealbreaker for some.

Pink in Devotion (without flash)

Pink in Devotion (with flash)

Check it out at Sephora, Nordstrom, YSL, or anywhere YSL Beauty is sold!

So, hit a deadlift PR yesterday, which was really cool!

I'm a notoriously terrible deadlifter. Like, there was a point in time where my squat and deadlift were terribly close. I don't know if I just don't have the body type for it (I think this is part of it...I'm built for squats!), but I was stuck for a really long time and I was getting extremely frustrated. My boyfriend tried to help me with my technique, and he'd get furious because I just wasn't getting it down. It wasn't that I wasn't making an effort, it's just that my body didn't DO things the way his does. A lot of it, I think, I can attribute to my pretty different center of gravity, which is loads lower than his or even a lot of women. I tried sumo, which was eh, but I still wasn't making the progress I should have been.

One day I showed up at the gym and someone had left 135 sitting on the platform. I just went over, picked it up, and put it in the rack. All of a sudden I stopped...the week before, I struggled terribly with 135. Confused, I grabbed it out of the rack, put it down, and picked it up again. That day everything changed. I stopped overthinking. I stopped taking tons of time to set up. That just made it worse. Just walking up and picking up the weight...as ridiculous and simple as this sounds...was what worked. When I did that, it was like my body automatically shifted into the position I needed to be in to lift the weight as easily as possible, the position I had been trying so hard to find. I struggle with reps, because when I put the weight down, I lose that position, but things are looking up.

Yesterday I pulled 185, which isn't really a lot to most people, but for me (I'm 5'2, and even when I'm heavier like now that's definitely more than 1.5xBW) that was a goal that I had set for myself. And it wasn't too awful! I maybe could have even pulled a bit more! I'm pretty hard on myself a lot of the time, but this was the first time in a while I felt satisfied, and almost a bit proud. I still hear myself reminding my head that, hey, you're heavier than you usually are, of course your weights should go up a bit. But I'm trying to just concentrate on the fact that my first deadlift ever was 65lbs and I'm up to almost three times that.

Now onto the next goal...the elusive 2 plates!

Battle Wounds

Another off gym day...having a lot of trouble mentally with my full cleans. It's all weight I've done before/am positive I can do, but something in my brain just blocks me and I freak. It's so frustrating! I feel like I've made no progress over the summer (which is not true, but that feeling is so nagging).

Did a few squats today...only up to 135 but every rep up to 95 was ATG and 115+ was a few inches below parallel. I don't count squats unless they're below parallel. I admit I do get judge-y when I see people do quarter squats or half squats. I'm sure I could half-squat an impressive amount of weight...definitely at least 1.5xBW...but that's nothing compared to a lighter but real, true competition-ready squat.

Speaking of technique, check out these lovely trophies from my improved snatch form!

I got my hip drive down. My banged-up upper thigh proves it.

Loving light snatches for cardio, though! Doing sets of 10 with even just 20-30lbs is exhausting! Also helps me work on my balance.

Too many things to do, not enough time. I have to try to squeeze some gym time in tomorrow if I can!

Wow wow wow, long time no update! It's been so hectic. We found an apartment (a different one!), signed a lease, drove four hours to the nearest IKEA and bought tons and tons of furniture, and everything has been all-around crazy. My gym time has taken a hit with all of the things to do...not to mention my diet...and it probably won't be too much better over the next two and a half weeks until we move (that soon!), but I look forward to getting everything back in check. So many things to blog about!

I did get three of Urban Decay's new lipsticks (that I adore! Hopefully will post about those soon!), and placed a spontaneous order from UD's website for mattifying powder, a sale shadow box, and a clear lip liner, which is something I have been needing for a long while. Sometimes I feel like I just should sign my paycheck over to UD. Or Sephora. Or Nordstrom. Or Neiman's.

What have I been up to? Here's a peek from my Instagram...

Row 1: Lipstick organization (!), Trying out Urban Decay's new Revolution lipstick in Anarchy

Row 2: Le Metier de Beaute: Polish in ShocKEN Pink! and Kaleidoscope in Eagle's Envy

Row 3: Cuddly Waffles, and deadlift bruises with kettlebell swings

PCAT review has lagged behind, which is something I need to catch up on. I had a few good gym days followed by kind of a drought lately, but my snatches have gotten much better form-wise. I have the bruises to prove it! I'm looking forward to definitely improving those. The boyfriend says I have a bit of a natural inclination towards them, and I hope he's right!

On that note, it's late and I have to wrangle up at least some energy for tomorrow. Work, hopefully putting at least one piece of furniture together, PCAT review, and gym time. Never enough time. Never enough lipstick. Alas, such is the life.

Crazy times! Been apartment hunting recently, so that's taken up a lot of time. We took a detour yesterday and went to Niagara Falls, since my boyfriend had never seen them. They get less exciting the tenth or so time, but they're still kind of neat. All the surrounding area is so tacky and touristy, though!

Via My Instagram

Had some pretty nice workouts this week, though. Bench press wasn't too awesome, barely hit 75lbsx3. Sometimes I have really off bench days, mostly because my arms are so, so short that to unrack even with a liftoff I have to lose a bunch of tightness. Deadlift wasn't too bad, though! 145lbsx5, probably could have pulled for more but I was pretty tired. I went through a pretty long period where my squat was higher than my deadlift, so to see it start to increase has been awesome.

Hope everyone is well! Summer's coming to an end more quickly than I'd like, so let's enjoy it while it lasts!

Friday Fabulousness: Favorite Shimmering Silver Shadow

It's time for Friday Fabulousness! This week is...

Favorite Shimmering Silver Shadow

Chanel always has fun and interesting shades and formulas, so when I read about Chanel's Illusion D'Ombre Long Wear Luminous Shadow ($36), I was fascinated. When I saw Epatant? I was sold.

Chanel Illusion D'Ombre Long Wear Luminous Shadow in Epatant

The formula itself is most like a mousse, I guess. It's very unique! Kind of squishy, as weird as that sounds. It comes with a little shadow/liner brush that usually I wouldn't think twice about but actually happens to be perfect. It's smooth and shimmery, and while I don't use this shade in particular as a liner, can double as that.

Epatant is a beautiful silver with slight green undertones, which is originally what sold me on it. I love a good green! It's a unique color and you only need a little bit to smooth over the lid and you're set. Long wearing? You bet!

Epatant (with flash)

Epatant (without flash)

It's available at Chanel, your favorite counter, or any site that carries Chanel cosmetics (Macy's, Nordstrom, whatever you please!).