real life gone digital life?

This was intended to be posted last week, but i am over here living life. I've been reading alot of blog posts and online articles about real life and "digital life"...and how much of our real life has turned into a digital life from asking a girl out on a date via text to finding out how about your uncle was diagnosed with cancer from his facebook post. No phone call there.
The way we are connecting is definitely changing more and more as we head into the future.

Do I dare ask when is the last time anyone has written a handwritten letter or note and sent it in the mail? I'll tell you that I do it all the time and its meaning is so special. I know because when a friend or relative sends me a card or letter, it totally makes my day and brings a warm fuzzy in my heart. That person took the time to write from their heart, even if it's just telling me about their latest vacation or book they read. It's just priceless.

So let me ask you. How much of your life is online? Would you say it's 50% or 75% or more or less? Now, for us who blog, alot of our real life is plastered online, but we can choose how much we reveal. We don't have to "check-in" at wendy's, then the gas station and let everyone know where we are. For me, I would say that I choose to be pretty open with you all and I would say that 65% of my real life is expressed on the blog, which is fine with me because to me, how else will my readers relate. And I just don't want to label you as readers, but as my friends and greatest supporters. Blogging about my life is what my blog is about and a way for me to document that as well to share with family & friends who live away.

The way to connect these days is by email, face-time, skype, facebook and instagram (i don't even have an account) and I will continue to utilize facebook and twitter as ways to reach out. Despite all that, I will always write my little heart out to my dearies and try to help keep the postal service in business.

perfect for fall pumpkin cheesecake

Hello Darlings! Yes, that means the guys too :)

I've been MIA this week, for good reason. I started making Christmas cards to sell!!! It's a good thing I am going by Hobby Lobby tomorrow because I am totally out of white cardstock, which is used alot on my cards.

Anyhoo, I have a treat for you! A recipe for pumpkin cheesecake which is perfect for this time of year if you ask me. Ok, well, for anytime of the year if you're a pumpkin lover like me.

turkey tom says hi

I've got the last two in the oven as we speak. I got the recipe here, but I tweaked it a bit. This recipe makes two, 10-in. shells. I used keebler's already made graham cracker crusts. And these babies were filled to the brim. No skimping out over here! I also baked these 10 minutes longer than the original recipe called for.

I can't wait to eat a slice! I made four cheesecakes total, 3 to be given away and one for me & my housemates. I should  let you know that the last two I made were filled way up to the top of the crust. Because of it being thicker, I adjusted the bake time to 1 hour 10 mins, which they just came out of the oven and look good. The center of all four cakes were a bit jiggly, but it hardens as it settles.

before

after

Pumpkin Cheesecake
4 packages of cream cheese (i used the bars, 8oz)
2 Teaspoons vanilla
1 1/4 cup sugar
2 15oz cans of pumpkin
2 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
4 eggs

Preheat oven to 350F

Beat together cream cheese and sugar. add pumpkin, vanilla & spices. beat in eggs one at a time. beat til creamy. pour into shells.

Bake at 350F for one hour.

Enjoy this goodness!

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Pretty Little Beauty Swap Reveal

I am so excited to finally be posting about the Pretty Little Beauty Swap I participated in. The lovely hosts were  Southern Beauty Guide and Sleepy Single Girl. This was one of the two best swaps I've taken part in ever. I figured with a budget of around $15-20 and all things beauty, it was a perfect swap for me.

I was paired with the awesome Jessica of A Different Kind of Plan. We had a month to be able to email with our partner and get to know them. I really liked this aspect of the swap because it gave us more time without being rushed as there were days between emails to get to know each other, I mean, we all have full days. Jessica and I of course talked things beauty, makeup, skin tone, etc but we also talked about push-up bras, our backgrounds and youtube channels. It was pure joy because now I have a new friend! Jessica is so fun, honest and down-to-earth.

This girl TOTALLY spoiled me and sent me SO many fabulous things!! Here are my packages from the box waiting to be open! It was like Christmas day!

I love the little notes she put. and the card was so sweet. I like the quote:

She knew I was dying to try any NYX products so she gave me oodles to try..such as eyeshadows and lipsticks and glosses. Oh and she let me know that NYX is now sold at Target! Whhhaa? Yeh. Before, it was only sold at Ulta.

She also knew that I get breakouts so she made sure to throw in a green concealer by Physician's formula which I had never tried! I've been using this product this past week to hide some redness on my face and it does help tone it down. yay!

Look at this!!!

Look at these eyelashes!! The note on the package said, "for your wild night out" hahah.

 

Jessica sent me a pretty E.L.F eyeshadow palette which I've already tried a few shades. Then there is this at home gel manicure set by Sally Hansen that I need to break open. I like the color she picked. It's a light pink, perfect for a mani. I haven't had the opportunity to test everything yet because she sent me so much fun, good stuff!

Oh and one of my fave items that she selected for me is this translucent mattifying powder by E.L.F. The compact itself is very sleek and the powder does help reduce the shine on my oily face!

Jessica! Thank you so much for everything you sent me!! I love it all! To find out what I sent Jessica, you'll have to check on her blog maybe later this week. My friend is busy with work and her internship! :)

a confidence booster

"I need to look presentable tomorrow," said me last night.

Some days, even if I am expecting company, I don't care what I look like. I have clothes on that I call "lounge wear" that consists of either pajamas or yoga pants and a tee shirt. No makeup. No earrings.

Well, today, I put together a casual outfit that's perfect for giving me a little boost of confidence,which is something I've noticed I've been lacking lately. I think most of us go through this at times where we talk "fat talk" about ourselves {i am guilty as charged} and make jokes about ourselves OR we hear from others hurtful, negative things about our size and appearance.

"I have a donut." "do you want a donut for your donut?"
"I am round and short like a pumpkin".
"I look like humpty dumpty."
" I am sorry, I have to tell you, you have a big butt."
"it's not big, it's HUGE."
"you're going to eat that?"

Last night before I fell asleep, I was thinking how much I've been putting myself down. WHY?! Why do I do that to myself? I need to love myself, now, as I am, whole-heartedely as much as I love others. Would I say the things I say to myself to my mom, friends or a young girl? Absolutely not!

Here's to snapping out of this negative mind-set and focusing on my positive qualities like being compassionate and patient (inwardly) and liking my eyes and hands (outwardly). And since it's November now with Thanksgiving and all, I'll name a few things I am thankful for about myself:

I am thankful for the upper body movements I have that allow me to write, type, create, apply makeup, eat and drink for myself.

I am thankful that my hair has continued to grow in my bald patches.

I am thankful that I am a patient person and that God has helped me to grow more in patience, understanding and compassion.

I am thankful for my sound, creative mind and my quirky sense of humor.

linking up with Allison at Two Thirty-Five Designs & Lena of Lena B, Actually

What are you thankful for about yourself? 

outfit details//

shirt: kmart

jeans: american eagle

earrings: forever21

a spooktacular party!

It's Hall-O-Ween!!! Happy day to eat as much candy as you want and give a trick or treat! :) Are you taking your kids trick-or-treating? Are you dressing up? Or did you go to a party last weekend?

So as I mentioned last week, I was a ninja turtle.
Michelangelo to be exact, but the girl version, ya know. Here I am! Turtle power. There is special thanks to K who sewed my eye band that you'll see a bit later. I only managed to wear it for a bit over an hour before it started to bother me. Future reference: don't pick a costume that requires a mask.

I went to some friend's halloween party saturday. My gal pal Amanda went as Snow White! She was the best Snow. Her and our friend K made each other costumes! They both turned out so awesome. K went as the best Annie!

About an hour before we left to the party, Amanda came over and I did her makeup. I am pretty satisfied with how her makeup came out. She showed me a photo from pinterest which was where we got inspiration for her "look" and she looked beautiful!

Amanda and her three roommates (the sanderson sisters) were the hosts of this fabulous bash. The party was a success with a great turn out. My guess is there were at least 50 people there! Some people had some really great costumes like, Jesse from Toy Story, John Wayne, Benny from the Sandlot and Tinkerbell to name a few.

Look at these amazing "bloody glass" cupcakes made by K! They look so real, but don't worry, they are completely edible. The girls did a great job with the decorations too!

 

It was a totally rad night!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

what i wore wednesday: fuchsia & black

I came across a site that was selling maxi skirts for $12 with free shipping last week and I had to jump on that! I really wanted the burgundy skirt but they were all sold out so I went with this fuchsia skirt. Ladies, it's so comfortable. I mean, almost every maxi skirt I have is comfortable. Wouldn't you agree?

I cannot for the life of me remember the site I got this skirt from. All i know is that it's made in the U.S.A. I bought this skirt because I am planning ahead as I am pretty sure most of my "cute" church outfits will involve a maxi since exposed legs in the winter will not be my cup of tea.

Today, I paired it with my black tee and a few accessories.

Perla is my model companion today :) She got a couple individual shots too, below.

P.S. The winner of the revlon lip butter is Anna! She has been notified. Thanks to all who entered!

outfit details:
shirt// target
skirt// TagUnder ( i remembered!)
bracelet// gift
earrings// gift
headband// Icing
eyeshadow: bella pierre