Whew! After a week of being snowed in, I've finally been out of the house. You would think that being snowed in would give me that push to get shit done. What it actually made me do was sleep and eat more than any human being should.

But it also gave me the time to get some reading done, which was great since I have recently joined a bookclub. For January we read The Screwtape Letters, which is a Christian satire by C.S. Lewis. It was very well-written (of course) and I would recommend it to anyone, whether they are a Christian or not, because the writing was so good and it is near genius that Lewis created such an interesting world through only the letters of one character. Also, it has some bits in it that are relatable to humanity as a whole. It will make you think, and that is what a good book should do from time to time. There is also an audiobook version narrated by John Cleese-- if you find it hard to read, he will help.

It's 60 degrees today, but we still have half a foot of snow on the ground.

Like I was saying, I've finally made it out of the house. On Friday, Candice and I had a meeting with a potential client and spent the afternoon getting things ready for our bookclub meeting. Our friend Rose made the most delicious brownies I've ever eaten. Saturday was a shopping day. I picked up a Bowie album and the new Rolling Stone magazine with him on the cover and bought a few things from Ulta.

I went in to pick up the new cushion foundations from Physician's Formula and L'Oreal. They didn't have them... So naturally I bought things I didn't need anyway. To be fair, I've been eyeing the two Maybelline lipsticks since I saw them in a HeyClaire video.

This week is shaping up to be a busy one. I'm going to have to find that motivation from deep within, but with weather currently in the 60s, I might be able to manage.

How has your week been? East Coasters, have you dug out from the snowstorm yet?

Drugstore makeup tends to get a bad rap. While we are all usually excited for the spring and fall product releases, they don't often make our favorites list. But drugstore makeup has come a long way since I first started wearing it all the way back in 7th grade. Some drugstore finds are even staples of my everyday makeup routine-- and I'm always on the search for the perfect drugstore foundation. Don't get me wrong, I still love my high end beauty products, but here are a few from the drugstore that have reached Holy Grail status in my life.

1. ELF Eyeshadow Palettes. A few years ago, ELF eyeshadows would not have made my list. They were chalky and barely pigmented and definitely not worth even the few dollars they cost. But that has changed big time. The last few palettes I have bought from ELF have been creamy, pigmented, and blendable. Plus the color selection is great, with a nice mix of neutrals and jewel toned shades as well as a few bright pops of color. And you can't beat the price: most of their larger palettes run between $5-$15.

2. Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer & Stay Matte Foundation. Having dry skin, I don't usually reach for the Stay Matte foundation. But when I look back at pictures from when I do wear it, I think damn! It makes my skin look so smooth and flawless, I could cry tears of joy. The Wake Me Up concealer is part of my everyday routine. I use it under my eyes and on blemishes and dark spots. It brightens and highlights the under eye area but covers my spots without bringing unwanted attention to them. It's really disappointing Rimmel never released the Wake Me Up foundation in the States, because then I might have found my perfectly priced foundation match.

3. Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Pencil. This is one of those trends that hit high-end stores first and was then duped in the drugstores. And these Rimmel pencils are right up there with the ones by Urban Decay and Sephora, for a much cheaper cost. There isn't as wide of a color selection, but they do have a variety of shades from bold blue to a neutral taupe to a glimmering gold.

4. NYX Lip Products. Well, NYX anything if I'm being honest. NYX is pretty much the MAC of the drugstore makeup world. They do a little bit of everything and they do it well. From eyeshadows to face primers to blushes to (especially) their lip products, you could buy every makeup staple from this line and look flawless. (In fact, I need to try out more of their face products and soon.) See swatches from NYX's High Voltage lipstick range here.

5. Maybelline Brow Drama Pro Palette. Again, this is one of those trends that hit stores like Sephora before appearing in the drugstores. But I would actually say this product is better than some of the higher-end alternatives. The packaging is cute and sleek, and the product itself is fantastic. It's another one of my daily staples-- and you can read my full review of it here.

What are some of your favorite drugstore finds? Any dupes you want to share?

Origins had a great deal on Cyber Monday-- yes, ages ago-- where you could purchase a set of their most popular skincare products in deluxe sample sizes for only $15 with free shipping and handling. I was in the car on my way back from visiting family when I learned of the deal and I rushed to make sure I bought it. I had used a couple of products from the brand before, such as the Clear Improvement and Drink Up masks, but had never really used their products in my regular routine. My skin has been acting up for the past few months and I have been dealing with acne-- something I never really experienced as a teen or young adult. My current skincare routine just hasn't been working for me anymore and I saw that as a great opportunity to try these new products out.

All of the products pictured were included in the set, as well as the Make a Difference hand treatment and Modern Friction dermabrasion scrub, and the set came with a small tote bag that I am currently using to house all of my sample and deluxe sample sized products. But what initially piqued my interest about the brand a few year ago was that they were touted as a simple and natural brand. I'll admit that I don't do all that I could for the environment, but I do like to make changes where I can. Origins says they use the 'power of plants' in their skincare and have a commitment to nature and the environment, and they use renewable sources from sustainable regions.

I love that about the brand. It makes me confident in purchasing from them. Something else I love about their products-- and this is completely superficial-- are the smells. The Ginzing line and the Night-A-Mins cream have a citrusy orange smell which is really refreshing and calming. I'm not usually a fan of that scent, especially in my skincare, but for some reason it just seems perfect as I'm applying the products. The Checks and Balances face wash has a peppermint scent and, just like the description says, it does foam up as you use it. A little definitely goes a long way.

I think all of these products are great for a multitude of skin types. I have combination skins-- some spots get oily, some get dry, and some are relatively normal-- and all parts of my face feel great after using them. The face wash takes care of the oil without drying out what is already dry and the moisturizers leave my dry areas feeling plump and moisturized without leaving the rest of my face feeling greasy.

I can't say that the products have diminished my acne any; however, I think that my acne is being caused by some changes my body is going through and not by any products I am using. I think that if you have acne that is caused by an over production of oil, this will definitely help. The moisturizers are great and I don't think they are irritating my acne. And the products don't irritate my rosacea-- in fact, my skin seems less red and angry after I've used them.

If strong smells-- especially citrus scents-- aren't your thing, then I would say to stay away.  Otherwise, I would recommend Origins to just about anyone.

Have you tried Origins? Do you have a favorite product?

Forgive the quality of these images... And my eyebrows. Eek.

I am not a fashionista. I generally wear the same thing every day: a t-shirt or sweater, black jeggings and motorcycle boots. And, right now, my life doesn't really include events where it would be appropriate to wear a proper gown or fancy dress. That is why I love awards season: I live vicariously through these actresses. In my mind, I get to wear what they wear-- and inaccurately imagine that I could look anywhere near half as good.

The Golden Globes were a mixed bag for me. There were some dresses that I wanted to love but really didn't. There were a few dresses that I was totally and utterly disappointed with. But there were others that were so stunning, I internally cheered for the women who chose them. Good job, you, I wanted to say to them.

Here are the fashions I loved from Sunday's award show-- and, of course, some beauty looks, too.

Getty Images / Getty Images / Vanity Fair

My top three looks from the evening belonged to Jenna Dewan Tatum, Olivia Wilde and Zendaya, who wore a couple of the top trends I noticed on the red carpet. All three wore rich jewel tones, a trend I also spotted on Gina Rodriguez, Kate Winslet and Julianne Moore. Zendaya's dress had a gorgeous lace detail, as did Julia Louis-Dreyfus' dress. Other trends that I loved included simple, white gowns (Taraji P. Henson, Laverne Cox and Saoirse Ronan) and pockets! It was so refreshing to see dresses with pockets on the red carpet!


But women weren't the only ones rocking some great looks this year. David Oyelowo sported one of the more daring suits-- a purple, checkered three-piece-- while Eddie Redmayne was a little more subtle with his blink-and-you'll-miss-them polka dotted jacket. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson jazzed things up with a burgundy velvet jacket as he walked the red carpet with his daughter, Simone.

Side note: For most of my adolescence, I was obsessed with The Rock. Like, way before it was cool hipster status. His daughter was born on my birthday and, at the time, it was the best birthday gift ever.


Two makeup looks were particularly popular Sunday night: A smokey eye paired with natural lips and a soft but dark gothic look. And I love them both. The three ladies pictured above were really rocking these looks. I especially love Alicia Vikander's makeup, which is not only highlighting how naturally beautiful she is, but would be incredibly easy to recreate at home.

The Grammy and Oscar Awards are right around the corner and I'm looking forward to them both-- especially the Grammys, where anything goes. Which looks did you love? Did you see any beauty looks that you think will be popular this spring?

I woke up this morning to the awful news that David Bowie had departed our world to become the starman he was destined to be. There are some people that have such a powerful presence in this world, it feels like they must be immortal. David Bowie was one of those people, and the impact he had on my life was... I don't even know if a word exists that can properly describe the influence he has had on me and who I've become.

My love for David Bowie started when I was eight years old. I had found this movie on Disney Channel that had left me hypnotized. As my bedtime approached, I begged my mom to let me stay up and finish this movie, so we pulled out the couch bed and I watched that movie until the very last second. Without that act of parental leniency, I wouldn't be the person I am today.

Being an eight year old, I didn't really keep track of movie titles or actors. So for years I went about, occasionally wondering about this movie I could only vaguely remember from my youth, until one day in a freshmen science class a group of friends started talking about this film. That was it! That was the film I had been trying to remember in vain for so long! That weekend, I went out and spent what was-- for a high school freshman with no job-- and absurd amount of money on a collector's edition of Labyrinth.



That is where it really took off. I bought every album I could get my hands on-- CDs, special editions, greatest its, vinyl, MP3s-- and started watching every movie of his I could find. I bought t-shirt after t-shirt after t-shirt and wore them with pride. It became a running joke among family and friends-- and eventually even professors-- that I was a David Bowie girl. When people saw a news story about him, they immediately sent it to me. When his songs played on the radio-- a rarity, sometimes, on West Virginia radio stations-- my mom would call me and play it through the phone. I once had a boyfriend ban be from watching or listening to him, because he was jealous.

This picture came up in my Timehop this morning. I'm wearing the same shirt today.

But it was more than just me liking him or his music. His songs and movies somehow found their way into my life when I needed them the most, on multiple occasions. If I was having a particularly bad day, his song would come on the radio. When my grandfather had to have emergency surgery--a surgery that left us unsure if we would ever see him again-- a David Bowie song played on the end credits of a movie in the waiting room. By some strange force of kismet, David Bowie was there for me when it felt like no one else was. David Bowie was, for lack of a better word, the closet to God that I've ever gotten.

Beyond that, David Bowie inspired me to be myself and to love myself and to let my true self shine, something that I still occasionally forget to do. I mean, he was something special. And, as sad as I am, I am comforted by the fact that he meant so much to so many people. By the fact that he left all of this amazing work for us to enjoy in his absence. The world seems to be rotating a little differently today, but hopefully the stars will be out tonight.

There are few things I love more than a lazy Sunday, and that is exactly what today is. I've spent most of the day on the couch marathoning Say Yes to the Dress and planning a wedding for my, myself and I so I can have an excuse to try on some gorgeous dresses. Yesterday I bought a couple of copper wire baskets from Michaels to store my records and art supplies in, so between couch sitting and a helping of my mom's delicious spaghetti I did a little organizing.

Now I'm waiting for the Golden Globes Red Carpet shows to come on so I can see who is wearing what. As you can tell by my love of SYTTD, I live vicariously through others when it comes to fashion. And, because I do genuinely love acting-- as entertainment and as an art form-- I downloaded PopSugar's prediction ballot and filled it out. Granted, I've only seen a handful of these films and my record usually runs about 50-50, but it's just something fun to do.



I've also been toying with the idea of doing something drastically different to my hair-- drastic for me, that is. When I get an urge to change my hairstyle, I generally take the leap and go for it within a week or so. Sometimes a month. And this is turning into one of those urges. Previously I've had an ombre, teal hair, purple hair, short hair, long hair, red hair... Nothing too crazy, but I do tend to change it often. This time, though, I'm thinking about an undercut.

Sometimes you have a blog post written up and ready to go, but then something comes along that you feel like you absolutely have to post about. This book was that something. Books are a great way to nourish our minds and spirits but, if you're like me, it can be daunting to pick just one book to read at a time. It's so tempting to scoop up every book that looks interesting and so hard to choose only one to start on. Sometimes you just need a little push or some inspiration. Well, here it is: your push, in the form of a book review.

Me Before You is the story of Louisa Clark, a twenty-six year old who still lives at home with not only her mom and dad but also her grandpa, sister and nephew. Her family constantly teases her and word useless gets thrown around a lot, despite the fact that she's been helping support her struggling family for years. She's striving to grow up and find herself, especially after she loses the only job she's really ever known.

After a tumultuous job search that seems, well, useless, Louisa gets offered a job as a caretaker to Will Traynor. Will, once an active young man who traveled the world and was top-notch in his fast-paced career, was injured in a car accident that left him a quadriplegic. Louisa's job, she's informed, is to do some cooking and cleaning but mostly to keep Will company in hopes of brightening his spirits. What Louisa doesn't know is that Will's family is keeping a secret from her and, when she finds out what they are hiding, it will change her and Will's relationship-- and maybe even her life.

This book came out in 2012 and it was crazy popular, so I'm sure a fair few of you have already read it. It's popularity-- and, in all honesty, it's simplistic and retro cover-- piqued my interest, and I was pleasantly surprised to receive it as a Christmas gift. When I received it, I had no idea what it was about. And when I found out that it was a romance novel of sorts, I was disappointed. Romance has never really been my genre. But I decided to give it a go-- because why not?

The first fifty or so pages were a little hard to trudge through: several of the characters annoyed me to no end and it just wasn't keeping my interest. But, by the time I had made it through that first little bit, I had made a connection with the main character and her family. They were all flawed-- some more than others, in my opinion-- but they were so vivid and real that I became invested in what happened to them. And Will was quite charismatic; the character's charm seemed to exude from the novel. By the time I was halfway finished with the book, I didn't want to put it down. Occasionally, when I was doing chores or working, I would find my mind wondering back to the book and theorizing about what would happen or analyzing how a certain event made me feel. Those types of books are priceless, let me tell you.

A movie based on this book is set to be released this spring, starring Emilia Clarke, Sam Claflin, and Matthew Lewis and I am so excited for it. I always recommend reading the book a movie is based on, whether you read it before or after seeing the film. But, even if you're not interested in the film, I would recommend reading this book. If you're a romantic, you will love it. If you're a bitter and cynical romantic, you will love it. I'd even wager that you'll love it if you don't have a romantic bone in your body.

Have you read this book? What were your thoughts? Are you excited for the film version?