M A Y// May's Monthly Favorites!

Goodbye May and hello June! Its sad to say goodbye to one of my favorite months but at the same time I am happy to welcome June and all its wonderful and summery offerings! This month was very exciting my milestone 21st birthday happened on the first of May. Shortly after the school semester finally came to a close, my sister graduated from law school and I hosted a party towards the end. Plus my best friend Brittney and I bought our tickets to California. This month was sweet indeed! Now its time to get into my favorites this month!

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation 

I think this is my third time mentioning this foundation. The first was when I just had the bitty tester, the next when I first purchased it and now after it has been apart of my makeup family for a while. Initially, I was drawn to it because of what I had heard about it in the blogosphere. The pros being that it felt lightweight and amazing on the skin, buildable coverage and all around a great foundation to have in your beauty arsenal. I happen to agree with all those claims and it has been all I have been reaching for foundation wise all this month. 
L I N K

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush

To go along with this foundation I have been using the Real Techniques Blending Brush. Slowly bu surely I have been collecting these brilliant brushes done by Sam + Nic Chapman. All this month I have been defaulting to this brush in particular for all my base products: my foundation and both my under-eye and regular concealer. It just does the most amazing job of seamlessly blending products into the skin. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a cheaper alternative for a brush. I mean that is probably the most impressive selling point of this brush. It's so high quality and yet its so affordable so that anyone can have it. 
L I N K 

Hourglass Ambient Light Blush- Diffused Heat

 After waiting weeks upon weeks for this blush to be in stock at my local Sephora it finally came and I nabbed it as quick as you can say "hopscotch" ( good thing I did because the very next day, I kid you not they were sold out again.) This little beaut is a mix of Hourglass's famous Ambient Lighting Powder mixed in with a gorgeous array of blush shades which they have created a marbled effect within. I think it is just gorgeous to look at. No blush has the same pattern, it's all unique. I chose the shade Diffused Heat because I am still always drawn to dramatic things and this color stood out to me compared to it's subdued (but equally pretty counterparts) This blush looks absolutely  beautiful on the cheeks but can quickly go overboard so I always opt to go a little lighter. 
L I N K 

Dove Purely Pampering Pistachio Cream with Magnolia Body Wash  

I don't often include a shower product in my monthly favorites ( I am not sure if I ever have.) Regardless, I have been loving this body wash from Dove. It is honestly just one of the best smells one could slather on their body. Its just yummy and I sort of wish they had a hand cream or something that smelled like this so I could have the scent linger on me a little bit longer throughout the day. 

L I N K 

Cropped Polka Dot Button Down - H&M 

Anyone who is close friends with me knows that at the moment I am having a love affair with clothing that has either stripes or polka dots. I am not sure why this obsession has come about but out of all my recently acquired pieces of "dotted" clothing this cropped button down is my favorite. I have been wearing it all the time. The fabric is so comfortable for the warmer weather and I even wore it to a job interview because it had that balance of being formal because its a collared button down with a twist of hip & chic because of its pattern and the fact that it is cropped ( but not unprofessionally cropped.) 

"I Could Pee On This + And Other Poems by Cats" 

  A birthday gift I received from a friend. He knows I love a good coffee table book and also "silly cat related things" ( who doesn't now a days) It might have a crude title but hey cats can be rather crude in order to get their point across. The poems in here are simple but ridiculously funny and true if you have ever owned or have lived with cats. I myself, do not have a cat but my best friend Brittney has two of them and I have stayed at her house long enough to see the relatable humor in this book. 

( one of my favorites) 

If you have a friend that loves or owns cats I highly suggest you get this book for them as a gift. Or as a gift for yourself! It's a really fun book.
L I N K 

My last favorite which is not pictured above is my new phone. A white Samsung Galaxy S5. My old phone was not doing so well and so it was time to get a new one before my trip so that way I can be ensured a working phone. I have yet to be an I-phone girl I have stuck with android for a while and have no complaints other than not being able to buy phone cases by Rifle Paper Co. This phone is HUGE compared to my last phone. Almost as big as my face! I wasn't sure if I was going to get used to it but after having it a little over a week I am completely used to its largeness. It takes amazing photos and the battery lasts 2X longer than my old phone which seemed to always cop out midday. I have been getting along with it rather well. I thought the transition would be hard because I can be a little too sentimental with things like this but this phone is so amazing the transition was almost easy. 

That concludes my favorites for this month! 

What are your favorites this month? Let me know in the comments below! 

Connect with me on Twitter @AllegraShortill

Instagram : morbidcupcakes

See you all soon! 

                       - A 

March Favorites 2014

Hello my dears, it's that time again for my monthly favorites!

March seemed to fly by faster than February in my opinion and now we are going to be in April! wow! warm weather will be upon us in no time. Where I live I am just now noticing the first signs of greener looking grass and tiny little sprouts here and there. It's rather exciting!

Now, down to my favorites.

I don't have a ton of beauty favorites this month, only two are makeup related. 

 

  Milani Illuminating Face Powder in Amber Nectar

 A rather random impulse buy turned into a favorite this month. It's little rose pattern and pretty colors attracted my eye. When I gave it a try I really loved the instant warmth it gave. It's a trio of a highlight, bronzer and a peachy blush. It's really wonderful, plus a great introduction to Milani products in general. I mentioned this in my last post where I show my current daily makeup routine. X

Stila Single Eyeshadow -- Kitten

 Another product I mentioned in my makeup routine post. This eye-shadow is just amazing. Its a champagne with a tinge of rose gold. It looks amazing all over the lids and also on the brow bone for a bit of highlight. I just keep reaching for it. It's amazing!! 

Blender Cleanser Solid

This product was originally meant for the Beauty Blender sponge but I got it for my brushes. I know I am not the only one that just dreads the chore of cleaning makeup brushes it seems to take so long to wash all that gunk out. This "solid" bar of soap essentially makes cleaning brushes a breeze. It is sorcery! When my stippling brush is starting to look rather filthy I just swipe the brush around the soap,rinse with some water and WA LA! the brush looks bloody BRAND NEW! its remarkable. I highly recommend this product to be in your beauty arsenal. 

 

I suppose I should have counted skincare in the beauty favorites but I only have one skincare favorite this month;

  

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream

Recently I discovered that instead of having oily combo skin I have more dry combo skin. Also due to some more drying products I have been using to treat my really bad skin demons. My skin was dying for some moisture so I decided to go with this based on a suggestion I got on instagram. I really like this product a lot. It is very soothing and almost has a light minty scent that cools down all angry face demons and keeps your face moisturized in the harsh wintry conditions. I think I want to try out more products from First Aid Beauty, if you have any suggestions leave them in the comments below! 

My next set of favorites are my random favorites for the month of March.

Bath&Body Works Raspberry Peach Macaron Candle

I really wish I had not caught the tail end of this line. I picked up the larger version of this candle and I became OBSESSED with its scent. When I used it up and went to get more they only had the mason jars of it left so I grabbed one and intend to hoard it and only smell it, not burn it. Unless they decide to bring this scent back which I was told that they most likely would not. :( But the scent of this candle is just heavenly: Sweet just like a macaron~

English Breakfast Tea

For the longest time my favorite at home tea was Bigelow's Caramel Chai and it still is. However, my grocery store decided it would be a grand idea to stop selling Caramel Chai in the store. In dismay I decided one day to  turn back to the traditional English Breakfast tea and I have really been enjoying it. It's hard to beat. I got that tea tin from a host family my sister and I were staying with when we last visited England. 

Ten Pound Kettlebell + Kettlebell Workouts 

Like many, one of my 2014 resolutions was to get healthy and fit and I have continued rather well on this goal. One thing I have been enjoying is the kettlebell. Its the perfect way to blend strength training in with some cardio workouts. That is one way to blast calories and get into shape. I was really impassioned to get on the kettlebell boat after reading this article from the FitSugar blog. X

 Rifle Paper Co Notebooks

Thanks to Instagram I have been exposed to beautiful designers such as the wife and husband team Anna and Nathan Bond that are Rifle Paper Co. After lusting over their beautiful designs I saw a pack of notebooks at Target. In no blink of an eye they were mine and I love them. Especially the green one because it is my favorite color. I love to jot down all my blog ideas and important lists they keep my jostled mind organized. 

And that is it folks! Tell me, what are your monthly favorites this month? 

See you next time! 

- A 

February Amo're : February Favorites

This will be my first ever monthly favorites post! 

- throws confetti- 

The month of February is not my most favorite month of the year but at least its one step closer to spring!

( which happens to be a favorite.) 

Beauty and Skin Care:

My first favorite of this month has got to be my: NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer. I made a lot of beauty discoveries at the beginning of this year and this product is probably my favorite. 

My skin this month has been absolutely rubbish! but, with this concealer, hardly anyone would know. It brightens and conceals everything! I wrote a full review on it here if you want to know more. The short of it is. This product, has become a holy grail in my makeup routine. 

My second favorite is a lip product from Revlon.

The Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm Stain in the shade: Sultry 

I picked this up finally after doing the little dance of putting it into your shopping cart and taking it out five million times.

I am pleased to say that I really, really love this thing. 

Not just for the deep red color, or the slight minty tinge or ease of application. It's lasting power is what impresses me the most. I am a "lip pusher", when I am stressed or idle I tend to squeeze my lips together very tightly. That habit tends to lessen the longevity of my lipstick but this exceeds the life of a normal lipstick. Its great and affordable. 

Instant favorite!

Third favorite of February is the Vaseline Spray and Go Moisturizer.

Yes, spray moisturizer. To some it may sound lazy.

To me, it sounds like one hell of a grand idea.

Whether the old furnace kicks in to keep me warm but in return makes my whole body feel like a desert or, when I hop out of the shower with fresh shaven legs only to itch them red afterwards. This product comes in to save the day.

I have the cocoa radiant scent and its heavenly. I would love to try the aloe-vera one when it starts to get hot! 

My fourth beauty favorite is the Real Techniques Stippling Brush. This brush was my first lovely introduction to the Real Techniques highly acclaimed brand and I was instantly pleased upon first use! 

Blends in foundation, concealer seamlessly. The brush is soft but dense. Makes me want to rush over to Ulta and buy the rest of their brush line. They are bloody brilliant. The girls of Pixiwoo really know their brushes! 

Music 

When I first started this blog I made large music posts featuring my music loves of the month. I kinda miss doing those posts but I would like to make them more efficient looking. Maybe having a playlist set up right on the post? 

I am not sure. It will be sorted with later, anyhow!

 A rather recent music discovery has changed my life. Which is why it got it self into my monthly favorites.

LULLATONE, where have you been all my life?

A couple, an american and a japanese woman living together in Nagoya started to make music together and created the magic that is Lullatone.

Lullatone, is that perfect, whimsical background music you always want playing in your everyday life. 

Its cheerful,happy and cute. That is something I need in my ears all day long.  I would normally pick a favorite track but, they are all my favorite. However, I will place here my most listened to album. 

Soundtracks for Everyday Adventures

Want more? 

Website ---- x

Bandcamp--- x

( You can also find them on Spotify!)

Random! 

Heading in the direction of food I wanted to share with you a recent delicious snack discovery.

Vitatops!

Always wanted to just have the top of a muffin without 

receiving actual muffin tops in return?

Now, they have that! In your grocery store organic section.

They are so delicious and filling! I like the chocolate ones because the curb my constant cravings for it. 

But here is the kicker.

They are only 100 calories each! 

(wow! amaze! ooh, ahh!) 

And that's all folks! 

My first ever favorites completed!

What have been your favorites this month?

Tell me in the comments below! I would love to hear from you. 

- A