Crazy Jess | #TopFive | Mascaras šŸ‘Ā 

Well hello there.  If you are new here, welcome.  I hope you like, comment and subscribe.  If you aren’t new here, then welcome back and thank you for following me.  I know my blog lacks focus and content consistency but I’m working on it, I promise! 😜

In fact, I’m working on it so much so that I decided that I’m finally going to start my #TopFive series I’ve been planning on starting for like ever at this point but #life and #motherhood got in the way of that.  Now is as good a time as any.   

So, what do I mean by “Top Five Series” you may be thinking.  Well, basically I decided I would start a series each month were I would share my top five of random items/products/things etc.

For this month’s installment of the #TopFiveSeries I decided to start with my #TopFiveMascaras of all time.

Why mascaras you might be thinking?   Good question.  I chose to start with that topic because it’s one of the top questions I get from people regarding my makeup looks, even from strangers in public, holding a close second to the other frequent question I get which is ā€œwhat kind of contacts are you wearing, because your eyes are sooo green they can’t be naturalā€.

Yes Susan they are real.  God gave them to me and no I’m not lying to you.  (Sidenote: I legit had a lady in public argue with me and tell me I was lying that this is my natural eye color…because out of all the things to lie about regarding my appearance my eye color would be the one I’d choose lol šŸ˜‚)

So where was I?   Oh yeah, my top five mascaras.

These are legit my top five and I have all five on hand ALWAYS!   They range from high end to drug store brand and they are all worth the money.   I always get them in the color black or whatever the darkest color they have available is.   

In no particular order here we go…

By the way, I’m not going to write a thesis here on Mascara and highlight the pros and cons of each individually because that is just wayyy tooo much info. Just trust me if you want major volume you will like these šŸ˜‰

1) IT Cosmetics Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara


šŸ’° Price: $24.00

šŸ› Where to buy: Ulta

 

2) Benefit They’re Real Mascara


šŸ’° Price: $25.00

šŸ› Where to buy: Ulta

 

3) L’OrĆ©al Lash Paradise


šŸ’° Price: $9.99 (usually but you can get on sale & use coupons to get it even cheaper)

šŸ› Where to buy: any drugstore, Wal-Mart or Target and also available at Ulta 

Note: this is a drug store dupe for the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara and I quite honestly think this one is in fact BETTER than the Too Faced BTS and is obviously much more affordable.

 

4) Maybelline Lash Sensational


šŸ’° Price: $8.99 (usually but you can get on sale & use coupons to get it even cheaper)

šŸ› Where to buy: any drugstore, Wal-Mart or Target and also available at Ulta
5) Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir


šŸ’° Price: $26.00

šŸ› Where to buy: Sephora
So why these five?   Well in short they are all amazing and let me tell you I’ve tried ALL the mascaras.   Well maybe not all of them but darn near close and out of all the many mascaras I have purchased, these are the ones I consistently repurchase over and over again.

They work for me because they each give me dramatic volume, are buildable, don’t flake, aren’t too watery, and don’t give me “tarantula eyesā€ either.  I can wear them each by themselves or I can wear a layer of one and finish with a top coat or two of another and it always looks good. 

I consistently get compliments on my mascara/eyelashes or people ask me what false eyelashes I’m wearing (I don’t do false lashes FYI) and there is never any consistency in exactly what combination of these five I’m wearing on any given day when I get said compliments or questions so they all without fail work for me and for now are my must-have top five.  

What is your favorite mascara?   Have you tried any of these?  What did you think of them?   Comment below and let me know!

Until next time,

XOXO 

Crazy Jess šŸ’‹

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Dear Baby Hannah,

I’m sitting in your room right now in the recliner with my feet up looking at all the odd and ends left to do to prepare for your arrival and also marveling at how swollen my feet look.  It’s thundering and raining pretty heavy outside tonight and I can smell the delicious dinner your Daddy is cooking for us as I sit here.  It should be ready soon and that’s good because I’m about due for another snack.

I should be doing a million things other than sitting here but I just wanted to relax for a few minutes and soak in this peaceful time.  Your big brother whom we call Baby K or Bubba is sleeping in the room next to yours as I type this.  I want to snuggle him but that will just wake him up and if there is one thing you need to know about your brother it’s that he likes his sleep and does not like to be woken up. He gets a little cranky and he is totally not a morning person either as a side note (just like me actually).  You should be prepared for this.  

You are on my mind like every minute of every day because you are literally kicking and moving all the time of course but also because your Daddy and I prayed for you for so so long and now here we are and you are just a few short weeks of making your arrival (exactly fours weeks to the day from my official due date of 6/16/18).  I’m still in shock and denial sometimes but this ever growing belly and your kicks and movements make your presence very well known and real.  

As im sitting here I am thinking of all the things I want to tell you and how much I can’t wait to hold you.  So with that said, here are a few things you should know before you get here…

I don’t know what I’m doing with this Mom stuff, I’m just winging it every.single.day and hoping for the best but your big brother seems to think I’m pretty ok at it though.  

I want everything to be perfect for you but at the same time don’t want to spoil you to the point that you don’t appreciate things and life and the value of hard work.  I’m not afraid to tell you No when I have to.  

We don’t know where we stand on vaccinations, education plans, if the cry it out method is torture or if eating a truly grain free and organic diet is best and only way etc  So we will just be taking things day by day.  I hope you understand and will just go with the flow as we navigate these uncharted waters.  

The new born stage takes some trial and error and adjustments.  I mean what worked for your big brother may not work with you, so please be patient with us and know we are trying our best.  

I get overwhelmed easily when things don’t go as planned or I feel I’m failing.  I’m pretty hard on myself (like all the time).  I’m working on this.  Be gentle with me.  Know I’m just trying to be everything to everyone at all times, especially for you and Bubba and some times I reach a breaking point.  Your Daddy usually helps to reel me back in though.  

I’m not a morning person (I may have mentioned that earlier) and I need my coffee to function in the mornings.  Your Daddy on the other hand is more the morning person around here so if you plan to lean towards that tendency y’all will be two peas in a pod.  Sorry in advance for being grumpy. 

I’m opinionated and have a bit of a smart butt sense of humor. Some people love me for my no nonsense personality and others aren’t quite sure how to handle me.  So if the friends you make one day have parents that don’t like me, it’s ok I’m used to it and it’s their loss.  I will try to not embarrass you too much though. Note I said I would TRY.  

Your Daddy is amazing.  Like seriously you won the lottery of Dads with this one.  You will have him wrapped around your finger as soon as you arrive I’m pretty sure.  He is so patient, giving, nurturing, loving and hard working for us.  I’m already kind of jealous because I’m confident you are going to truly be a daddy’s girl. But your big brother is a total mama’s boy so it evens out.  

You are so loved already.  I can’t even begin to describe how much love we have for you already.  Not to mention how much love awaits you with this crazy and large family of ours.  I mean you have three grandmas for crying out loud how awesome is that?!? 

You can do anything you set your mind to and work hard to obtain.  Don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise.  You are going to be a strong, confident, and amazing female and I am eager with anticipation to see where this crazy life takes you.  

There is so much more but that’s enough for now.  

So for the next four weeks, focus on growing big and strong and get ready to greet us when you are fully grown.  But not too big though as we are trying to attempt an all natural unmedicated birth here… just sayin’ 

Love you to the moon and back times infinity,

~ Mommy 

Top 10 Drugstore Favs | Spring 2017

It’sĀ been a while since I have posted a favorites blog or vlog. Since I have been using a lot more drug store products lately I have found some great items that I absolutely adore and I thought now would be a great time to share my current favorites.

Most of these items are under ten dollars and were purchased on sale and with coupons at Walgreens, Rite Aid or Target. Ā I have provided links below for more details regarding the product. Ā Note some of these links are affiliate links as an FYI.

L’OrĆ©al infallible eyeshadow in color Endless Pearl

This is a must have in my collection. Ā I use it as an eye shadow base no matter what eye look I’m doing for the day immediately after priming my eyelids.

Milani Coconut Infused Lip Oil Treatment

Obsessed about this lip treatment is an understatement. Ā I put it on multiple times per day because I love how it smells & feels on my lips. Ā My lips have never been as moisturized as they are now after using this stuff religiously and it will be a permanent staple in my makeup bag/purse/night stand.

Elf Blush palette (Light)

I had low expectations for this palette when I bought it but was pleasently surprised how amazing the colors were. Ā They are pigmented, super blend-able and you can create so many versatile looks with the palette (day time/night time, office appropriate or night out etc). Ā I also love how you can remove the pans and customize the palette. Ā That’s pretty impressive for the price point.

Milani Amore Matte Lip Creme

I adore these! Ā I have three shades so far. Ā I’ve swatched them below. Ā As you can tell I’m mildly obsessed with nudes at the moment. Ā I also love how these smell like vanilla. Ā So many of my other liquid lip products have gross chemical smells to them which turns me off from using them, but not these! Ā They dry quickly, but don’t dry out your lips and they last a long time wear wise. Ā The bottom one is the only one of the Metallic ones I have.

L’OrĆ©al Sublime Bronzer ***This sadly was limited edition and is no longer available***

I found this at the grocery store on an end cap with a tear off coupon pad attached and thought “why not try it out”. Ā I ended up absolutely loving it and am devastated to find out it is limited edition and no longer available. Ā I love how the shade is kind of an ashy/gray shade which makes it perfect for contouring. Ā I like to use my bronzer to contour on most days (because I’m lazy and usually putting on my makeup as quickly as I can in between bottle feedings and diaper changes for Baby K). Ā So this is perfect for a Mom on the go with fair skin like myself.

Rimmel Stay Matte powder

Out of all the setting powders I have tried, both high end and drug store this is hands down my favorite and the most affordable of all. Ā It’s less than $5! Ā What a steal. Ā The only thing I don’t like about it, is the super cheap packaging (to be expected for the price point). Ā The clear plastic lid falls off in my makeup and always seems to break or crack no matter how careful I am with it. Ā That won’t stop me from buying it though because it makes my makeup stay in place for 12+ hours and doesn’t make my face look cakey.

Maybelline Falsies Mascara

Only tried this because I got a great deal on it via a drugstore sale and paired it with a coupon but it’s now one of my go-to drugstore mascaras. Ā It really makes my lashes look super voluminous and fake as well as adds some length to them. Ā I usually wear 2-3 coats of this on my lashes and do not pair it with any other mascaras. Ā If I want a more dramatic eye look I do a base coat of a lengthening and separating mascara first and then add 2-3 coats of this and I’m out the door and ready to take the day head on!

Wet & Wild Highlighter in color Precious Petals

This highlighter has been mentioned so much but that’s because it deserves a shout from the roof tops. Ā It’s stunningly beautiful for a drug store highlighter. Ā Wet n Wild has really stepped up their game with their makeup, while maintaining the affordable prices they are known for and this highlighter is probably one of the best Wet n Wild products I’ve gotten to date. Ā This is all I have been wearing this month and couldn’t be happier.

Wet & Wild Photofocus Foundation

This foundation really is pretty awesome for the price. Ā There aren’t many color selections though so it’s a shot in the dark regarding skin color matching but if you can find a shade that works for you then you will love this foundation. Ā It looks great on, doesn’t make your face look too oily, is a great price, and is perfect for people with combination skin like myself.

L’OrĆ©al Magic Lumi Primer

I wouldn’t say it’s the best primer I have ever used, as it doesn’t appear to do a great job of filling in all my pores, but it does make my skin have a healthy luminous glow that you can see after my foundation is applied. Ā I’ve used it under all sorts of foundations and have been pleased with the results. Ā It’s been pretty good and worth a mention but I wouldn’t say it has become my holy grail drugstore primer.

What are your current drugstore favorites? Ā Have you purchased anything new I should try out? Ā Comment below and let me know!

Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to like comment and subscribe. You can also follow me on Instagram Facebook or YouTube as well!Ā 

Product Empties – Winter/Spring 2017

So it’s been a hot minute since I have posted anything recently.  Life has just been busy and sometimes life commitments get in the way of my hobby of blogging & vlogging.  I really do promise to be more consistent in providing updated content.  I have so many things I want to share with you all and not enough time to do it all in!

With that being said, since I waited so long to film my empties vlog I broke it up in to three different videos so it wouldn’t be so long that no one would want to watch.  If you aren’t familiar with what an Empties vlog is, it is basically where you go through your trash and give a quick review of the products you have used up.  Providing your thoughts on the product, if you would buy it again or if you would recommend it etc.  Empties blogs/vlogs are one of my favorite topics to read and watch because it really shows you what your favorite vloggers/bloggers are actually using.  If someone has actually used up an entire product then it seems like their opinion on the product is probably more honest and real (that’s just how I look at it anyway).

So…if you are interested, the links for Part 1, 2 and 3 are below.

I hope you will check them out and if you aren’t already following me on YouTube don’t forget to like, comment and subscribe!

Last and most importantly, If you have a YouTube channel I’d love to follow you as well so leave me a comment below & link  to your most recent video so I can check it out.

Until next time,

XOXO,

Crazy Jess

Rite Aid Steal Deal Alert!

Hey y’all, hope you have had a wonderful weekend and are eagerly gearing up for another exciting and hectic work week like I am. 

Just wanted to spread the news about a current Steal Deal going on at Rite Aid this week (starting today). 

Check it out and run to your nearest Rite Aid before all the good stuff is gone!

Arm&Hamour Detergent (liquid and packs) are on sale for $1.99 with your Rite Aid card (aka your Plenti Rewards card). 

Use the $1 off 1 coupons available now (you can either download them from http://www.coupons.com or you can get your local Sunday newspaper and clip them that way). 

That is a final price of only .99 cents each and is an awesome time to stock up!

Also on sale this week at Rite Aid, all Wet n Wild Cosmetics are Buy One Get One 75% Off!  

I was finally able to score the photo focus foundation everyone has been talking about along with a blush and two bronzers and no coupon is necessary for this steal deal. 

My steal deal breakdown:

Purchased 1 foundation at $5.99, got one Bronzer for only .99 cents (regularly $3.99)

Purchased another Bronzer for $3.99, got one blush for .75 cents (regularly $2.99) 


Hurry and clip those coupons online and grab the Detergent deal before they are all gone and if you needed a reason to buy more drugstore makeup, now is the perfect time! 

Until next time,

Crazy Jess šŸ’‹