Travel Bucket List

Traveling is in my blood. As a military brat, I’m used to going to different places and seeing new countries. I’ve grown up with a passport and only recently did it expire. (It’s giving me anxiety just thinking about it.) With all the traveling I’ve done, you would think that I had seen it all.  Not even close. I have a travel bucket list that is nearly a mile long. Some places I’ve been to and would love to go back to and some places I have dreamed about. 

Maybe my list will give you some ideas.

In no particular order:

Italy

Japan

Costa Rica

Spain

France

Ireland

Scotland

India

Australia

Bali

Fiji

Thailand

Morocco

Cyprus

Africa 

(I am well aware that Africa is the continent, not a country. But there are so many countries that I want to see I just lump it all into one. If I could get to just one I would be happy.)

What's on your travel bucket list?

Full exposure thoughts

I recently made a new palette purchase, having finally given into the hype. I’d been eyeing the the smashbox double exposure palette since it came out, but could not justify the price without testing out some of their other eye shadows. I decided to take the plunge and I picked up this one:

I know, not quite the same, but figured that the quality should be on par since it’s the same company and all. I brought it home and just oohed and awed over it for a bit, thinking of all the looks I could do with it.
  (a shot of the all the colors.)
I probably should have done some swatches while I was at Ulta before brining it home, but this one was up at the registers, so not really the place to be testing things out. As you can see below, I’m the color pigmentation is okay, but not at all what I was expecting from glancing at the full palette’s. (samples swatches)
(A better look)
One the arms, the colors show up alright, but on the lid, I have to be honest that the colors did not show up the way I was hoping for. I know one has to build and blend, but I felt that if I had actually dug into the shadows, I would have received better color pay off. The good part is that there was no fallout or heavy chunks like I found in the lorac gold palette (another story).
The neutrals in this palette are nice and could probably be used as transition colors. Some of the other colors though are a bit light, almost ashy on my skin tone and they will not be used for much.
In the end, I’m not sure how much usage I’ll get out of it, but I do plan to keep it and try to work it into a few looks. It is good for travel and maybe with a nice base, these colors will pop better.

Packing and Vacay…

 

I headed home for thanksgiving and to say that I was excited…an understatement at best. My family is the center of my universe and to be this far from them sometimes makes me a little…lonely. So, packing for this trip was more fun than I can really put into words. Part of the excitement is picking out what to wear. I went down for 8 days and my mother likes activities. Shopping, sightseeing, cooking, baking…you name it, she’s into it. My father is retired and reclining is his activity. I say have at it…a retired army captain and then worked for another 20-30 years…you do what you want and let anyone say different. What all this means is that packing was an adventure for me. In preparation, I had to buy a suitcase.

I love the color of this and I feel that I can expand it with black, more purple or even…zebra stripes. Yes, you can see the funky side of me coming out with that statement. While I’m unsure of what exactly I should wear, I do know some of the activities that are going on. My mother has decided to turn this day into a reunion of sorts for some of the cousins on her side. There aren’t that many, but there are enough that it’s going to be a packed house. YES!

Sounds weird, but I miss my family and while they will drive me crazy, I would never trade it for anything. I see too many people who are miserable in their family and I do not want to be on that road. I love them and that is that.

I will be packing staples: jeans, casual shirts…

But what else? Maybe some leggings?

A few T-shirts? You should have seen the shiver that went down my spine. I do not do t-shirts…or sweats for that matter. I do work out, but that is the only time you see me in sweats or yoga pants. On that note, I will be taking work out gear.

Maybe I’ll bring a pair of boots. I’ll be in NC, but I know the temps will be low so boots will be okay. I also know that I’ll be bringing home some clothes, a nice little haul if you will, so there is that to consider as well. I think…I have a few ideas. Tell me what you think

I had more outfits, but they did not seem to save to my SD card…hmmm…

 

How was your Thanksgiving? Where did you go and what did you wear?