Sunday Social

Hello!

Happy Easter - to those who celebrate!  Its Sunday and time for Sunday Social!

Here are this weeks questions!

1. Favorite type of work out to do?
Yoga or swimming laps, I like non-impact exercise.  I'm telling you my knees are not what they were in my 20's.  

 2. Favorite guilty pleasure candy or sweet?
I'm not going to act like I don't eat candy everyday - no joke.  I always have a little bit of treats, so there isn't really a guilty pleasure one for me. 

 3. What is one thing you continuously forget to do?
Put my perfume on before I leave the house. 

 4. Posts its or phone reminders? Why?
Neither - I either just do it now, or it goes on my mental list for the day or my days off.  I am such a worrier that I don't need reminders.  Except for inane things like putting on perfume :)
 5. Favorite picture currently on your phone that always makes you smile
My kitty laying right up next to me like he always has to - he's a momma's boy. 

Hope you all have a great week!

Jasmine

Silly Saturady

Hello!

Today is Silly Saturday! Please feel free to link up below if you have a humorous post to share! And check out Martha's post @ Quick, Cheap & Pretty!

Let the funny begin!

Source: 24.media.tumblr.com via Stacey on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Melanie on Pinterest

I love this!

Source: joshylh.tumblr.com via Kaliska on Pinterest

Gotta have some Easter humor!

Source: slapcaption.com via AnyPromo on Pinterest

so cute!

Source: bestfunnyjokes4u.com via Jokes R Us on Pinterest

Indeed!



Love this!!


Hope you all have a wonderful Saturday!


Jasmine

MOTW- Indie Spring

Hello!

Today I wanted to share my manicure of the week!  This week I wanted to integrate the new indie polish I got from Nikki @ Heaven has Cupcakes in our monthly nail mail swap. 

 

I used one of my favorite formulas - Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Barely Bluebell and Nail Sauce polish in Rainbow Bridge. 

I love the little yellow flowers and the teal, red and purple sparkles.  It went on pretty smoothly and I didn't have to fish much to get the flowers - it may be because it's a mini bottle and I always find glitter placement easier with minis. 

 

Indoor lighting on the left and Daylight on the right
 

I think it turned out really cute! And now I just want All the Nail Sauce glitter top coats :) !

Hope you all are having a great week!

Jasmine

Beauty Blogger Headquarter March Task - Photo Editing

Hello!

Today I am going to do the March Beauty Blogger Headquarter's Task and it's all about Photo and Video editing on your blog.

1) What program(s) have you used in the past for editing your photos and/or videos? Can you provide a short review, likes/dislikes?

I used to mainly use Windows Live Photo editor.  Windows Live Photo editor is pretty basic, you can crop, adjust the color temperature, brightness and contrast.  When I first started this is pretty much all I used.

This picture was taken in the early days of my blog in natural daylight - I now take comparison face pictures with "daylight" lighting so that each picture is consistent and there isn't random shadowing or a change in color temperature because it suddenly gets cloudy. 


2) What program(s) are you currently using for editing your photos and/or videos? Can you provide a short review, likes/dislikes?

I use PicMonkey now because you can crop, adjust color temperature etc... but you can add color background, make collages, and add little graphics.  It's pretty good for a free program, but I do wish I knew how to use Photoshop.

3) What are your thoughts on image editing websites; free or purchased?

I think most of the free websites are pretty basic and give you just enough to want more. I really don't want to spend even $10 a month for extra graphics or whatever.  I guess I'm cheap. It works well enough for now. If my blog were to advance I might consider learning Photoshop.  Now to purchase Photoshop out right as a software package is around $700 there is noooo way I'm paying that currently.  So I don't really know what else I would use.

4) What are your thoughts on editing videos directly on Youtube's website?

I currently use YouTube's video editing and it's no fun - so I have been looking at some other software.  Most likely Sony Movie Studio, since I have a Sony camera and it looks easy to use.

5) What program(s) would you recommend for beginner bloggers?

For basic photo editing PicMonkey is pretty good, and free!  The key to all photo editing is taking GOOD pictures so you don't have to do much! Read up on your camera so you know how use it.  Make your self a light box if possible, it makes a world of difference and allows you to take pictures anytime of day.


6) What is your editing process like? Do you edit individual pieces or schedule a day for all your editing?

I edit my pictures the day I take them so it's usually only a few at a time.  I don't prepare more than 2 posts at a time.

7) On average, how much time do you think you spend on editing images and videos in a week?

Photos, maybe an hour (total in a week).  But if I have to edit a video it's more than an hour (I really am not very savvy) to edit, then like 3 hours to upload it to YouTube.
 

So that's pretty much it - I will say when I take product pictures I already have a pretty good idea what I am going to write about so I only take a few photos.  My photography skills need improvement, but overall I think they are ok.  Macro is what I have the hardest time with (and yes I have messed with the settings NUMEROUS times) but I think I need a camera upgrade.  I currently use a Sony Cybershot. 

Jasmine

Sunday Social

Hello!

It's Sunday, so once again I am linking up for Sunday Social:

1. What is your favorite thing about Spring?
My favorite thing is the change in weather - sunshine but not the heat!  And the rain brings flowers and green.

Source

2. Favorite kind of flowers to grow or receive?
I like to grow roses (but I'm by no means good at it), I like to receive mixed bouquets.

3. What is your favorite nail polish color?
Pink, Pink, Pink !


Just one of my pink shopping sprees!


4. What is your favorite outdoor activity?
My favorite "active" outdoor activity is a nice nature hike.  My favorite "passive" activity is to lay in a hammock (in the shade) on a warm day and reading.

5. Do you have any fun Spring plans?
Planning for summer road trip vacations.

Jasmine

Silly Saturday

Hello!

Once it again it is time for Silly Saturday!  Please enjoy my contributions and check out Martha's at Quick, Cheap & Pretty!  And please feel free to link up your humorous post! 

Source: Uploaded by user via Boris on Pinterest

How funny is that black cat's face!

Source: howtogeek.com via Emlyn on Pinterest

I wish my neighbors and I were this creative with our Wi-Fi names :)

Source: bestfunnyjokes4u.com via Jokes R Us on Pinterest

That poor dog's stomach!

Source: bestfunnyjokes4u.com via Jokes R Us on Pinterest

Oh this makes me giggle

Source: someecards.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Let Darwin-ism do it's work!!!

Source: Uploaded by user via Chelsey on Pinterest

I soooo read that wrong like 3 times!


So if you have a Humorous post, link up below!



Jasmine

Inner Beauty Friday - Book Club!

Hello!

It's Friday, so once again I am linking up with Heather at Blonde...Undercover Blonde for Book  Club!

This week I read "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn:

Here is the synopsis from Goodreads.com: "Marriage can be a real killer.  On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?

My thoughts: This book is good! It gets my highest praise which is - it's Interesting!  I appreciated that most reviews I saw about this book didn't give away plot elements - so I'm not going to say much, because anything you say literally will ruin plot twists.  I just think that even if some elements are a bit over the top - I liked it!  And the end ... it is what it is.  I don't know how I would have ended it so for me it works.
 
Until next week!

Jasmine

Spring Stylin'

Hello!

Today was cold but it was sunny! And it felt like spring was trying to break thru! So I present to you some fun spring styles I like and hope to be rockin' soon ;)

Spring Stylin with Moodz, Proenza Schouler, YSL Yves Saint Laurent

What styles are you looking forward to for spring?

Jasmine

MOTW - Lilac Luxe

Hello!

Tonight I wanted to share my manicure of the week!  I had previously has the Sally Hansen Insta-Gel Stips on - See Here!  I took them off after ten days (a combination of chipping and a beauty bloggers need to change!)  So I decided something spring & blingy would be in order.

So I used Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Lacey Lilac as my base ->

Then I put on some of those French manicure stickers and painted the tips with Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Celeb City and a top coat of Diamond Flash ->

For some reason (probably because of the flash) it looks uneven, but I swear it looks fab in real life! 

I love non-traditional French manicures - how about you?

Jasmine

Guest Post - Mandy Jean Chic

Hello!

Today I am doing a Guest post on "Getting the perfect Red lip!"--> over at Mandy Jean Chic!.  And let me tell you it will make any color lipstick LAST!

I am so glad she let me have this opportunity, as I read her blog each time she posts and love her Money Monday Po$ts!  and her beautiful photography of New Mexico!  So stop by her blog and check it out and please leave me a comment if you try my technique!

Jasmine

oh fine! I'm on Bloglovin too!

Hello!

I don't really use Google Reader - but perhaps you do!  And who am I to deprive you of my blogging?  So I created a Bloglovin account so you can follow me there - so please do!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Jasmine

Sunday Social

Hello!

It's Sunday, so I am linking up for Sunday Social!



1. Favorite thing to do on a rainy day?
Sleep in, then have breakfast, read, sleep, read, sleep and maybe fit a movie in.

2. Favorite thing to do on a Summer weekend?
In my adult life I have rarely had "traditional" work schedules, so I rarely have Sat & Sun off.  But for the sake of this question what do I do with 2 days off in a row in the Summer... Sleep in then go have brunch with boyfriend, shop at interesting design oriented stores, and then when it gets dark and cooler go on a walk to go get Dairy Queen.  2nd day Sleep in, then go to botanical gardens and enjoy all the plants, lunch out on the town and then see a summer block buster movie.  If we aren't doing something like that we are usually camping. 

3. Favorite Spring accessory?
Delicate jewelry

4. Favorite way to spend a Winter day?
Same as a rainy day!  Except with more blankets!


5. What is your favorite season and why?
Fall!  I love the weather, the clothes, the release of cosmetic value sets for Christmas in October...

6. Best birthday you ever had?
When I was 25 I went to Vegas for 5 days with my good friend and saw Billy Idol in concert, it was a lot of sun, fun and drinking!


What's your favorite spring accessory?  It was hard for me to think of something "spring"?

Jasmine

Silly Saturday Link-up!

Hello!

Today once again Martha from Quick, Cheap & Pretty & I are hosting Silly Saturday -> You can grab the button on my right sidebar. 




Here are my contributions, can't wait to see yours -> Link up below!

Source: funnycatss.com via Laserterapia Beauty-therapy on Pinterest

Such a cute Kitteh!!

Source: Uploaded by user via Alyx on Pinterest

Heh! Heh! Heh!

Source: funelf.net via Kat on Pinterest

Source: imgur.com via Mysti on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Erin on Pinterest

That is one creepy bag o' chips!!

Source: someecards.com via Emily on Pinterest

Yea! BIRDS! Don't mess with me!

Link up your Silly Saturday Post below!



Thanks for joining!
  Jasmine

Inner Beauty Friday - Book Club

Hello!

Once again I am linking up with Heather from Blonde...Undercover Blonde for Book Club!

This week I read "A Casual Vacancy" by J.K. Rowling:

First and Foremost - (and lets just agree to disagree) - I am not a Harry Potter fan. I read the first 4 books when they came out and I just couldn't read anymore, it's not interesting to me.  I think it got a bunch of people reading that normally wouldn't so that's great, just not my taste.

But I wanted to see what her adult fiction was like - here the synopsis from Goodreads.com: A BIG NOVEL ABOUT A SMALL TOWN ...
When Barry Fairbrother dies in his early forties, the town of Pagford is left in shock.
Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war.
Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils ... Pagford is not what it first seems.
And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations?

My thoughts: There are a couple of things I do when choosing a book that are weird - I never read the synopsis or the reviews first.  I want to be surprised by the book, and I don't like outside influence.  I read a lot of books based on the cover, or by author.  Which is probably why I end up with books I don't necessarily like (but I think that's good - it makes you broaden your comfort zone).  This book falls into the category of "ok plot - but all the characters are bad people, and you just don't connect with them, so you don't care what happens" And then when I went to read the reviews for this book, to see if others felt the same on Goodreads, I was shocked to see that literally 100's people "reviewed" this book and gave it 5 stars just because J.K. Rowling wrote it, they hadn't read it.  Really people?  Or they described it as "beautifully written".  I am not in publishing so my opinion is moot, but it is NOT a "beautifully written" book.  If it had been by anyone else it would have just been "meh" for most.

But I just started Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn yesterday and I am enjoying it - so yea!

Jasmine

Le Big Show Mascara - Review

Hello!

Today I want to share a mascara I received from Christine @ Little Red Bow!!  It's Le Big Show Mascara from Annabelle (a Canadian brand), thanks again Christine!  I love of the name of this mascara first of all - I kinda of love to add "Le" in front of a lot words.

So the mascara advertises that it will give you:
* Mega Volume from the first stroke
* Separates lashes easily without clumping
* Adds tons of length for show-stopping lashes

And I am happy to report it's a good 2 for 3.  I don't think it gives you Mega volume.  But one thing they don't talk about but should is how lightweight the formula is, it looks great and you can barely feel it.  I really like how it looks natural but even better!  It definitely gives me length and catches the very fine lashes I have as well!

Good stuff :)

Have you found a favorite new mascara lately?

Jasmine

Guest Post @ Hairspray & High Heels

Hello!

I have had several people ask what is behind me in my YouTube videos.  It's a Magnetic Make-up Board that I made and today I did a Guest Post over at Hairspray & High Heels on how I made it!

Ange's blog's has tons of other DIY ideas and make-up reviews as well so check it out! I also love this recent manicure she did -> Coral & Teal Polka Dot!!

 

Jasmine

MOTW - Sally Hansen Ista-Gel Strips

Hello!

This week I used the Sally Hansen Ista-Gel Strip kit to do my manicure - the kit runs anywhere between $27.97 -$29 depending on where you get it (Get it Here!).  It includes the strips (16 of them in various sizes), a orange stick and mini nail file, the Gel top coat and the UV light. 

 

 

I haven't had the best luck with the regular nail stickers so I was worried this wouldn't work so well.  But the strips are much more flexible and easily repositionable.

 

So you just shape your nails, use the included nail pad to clean them, put on the sticker, pull it taught and it basically snaps off at the edge of your nail.  The smooth it all in place, file off the excess and coat it with the Gel top coat.  Put it under the included LED lamp, hit the button and the light goes on for 30 seconds.  Then you wipe it again with the nail pad and it's dry!  How does it work?  Magic. It's seriously easy.  And I think it turned out really nice.

The manicure is advertised to last "up to 2 weeks" - we shall see...  More strips are kinda spendy at $13 ( I could buy like 4 bottles of polish for that!) - but if you are going vacation this would be perfect.  Or if you just don't like doing your nails but like them to look nice. 

Could you maintain the same color for 2 weeks or would you get bored?

Jasmine

** This product was provided to me for trial purposes, this does not affect my review and I always tell you what I honestly think.**



Sunday Social

Hello!

It's time for Sunday Social!



1. What is one movie you are terrified to watch?
The Mothman Prophecies, my friend and I started to watch it like 10 years ago and just got the hebie jeebies and I'm scared!

2. What is one TV show you have always wanted to get into but haven’t yet?
I have 3 shows I have been meaning to start watching:
1) Downtown Abbey
2) Vampire Diaries
3)Scandal
 

3. What is one daring activity on your bucket list?
Para-gliding
 

4. Would you ever travel alone?
Absolutely!  I have done it quite a bit!  I've gone to L.A., Montana, North Dakota and all over the US by myself.  I think I would like to NYC next and then London!
 

5. What activities do you like to do alone?
Honestly, pretty much everything.  I am very happy in my own company, I dine out alone, go to movies alone.  I do have a boyfriend, and we live together, but we have differing schedules so... sometimes I just have to go it alone.  I especially like make-up shopping alone!

Any activities you like "best" alone?

Jasmine