Cheeky Quote Tuesday

Cheeky Quote Tuesday

Art. Love. Color | Smashbox

Hello lovely reader! There is snow on the ground and it is freezing outside, which means it is a perfect Sunday for wearing slippers all day, staying inside, reading a book fireside, and relaxing. One way that I like to relax is through drawing and coloring. I love to pic a playlist on spotify, and just draw. I have always loved art and when I heard about Smashbox's new "Art. Love. Color" line, of course I was intrigued.

As soon as I saw the packaging, I was excited! It features artwork by Yago Hortal and as you may assume is full of color. I was given the "studio set" as a gift from my mom before finals week, and I was in the love with the canister before even looking at the products which were just as nice! The colors offer a natural look but you can create a darker eye with the platinum and eggplant eyeshadows! The lipstick is also a beautiful shade of pink that can be worn now in the wintertime but also in the spring.

The set contains a mascara, two eyeshadow trios, a lipstick, and a lipgloss

Eyeshadow Trio "Aubergine, Bare, Nude"

Eyeshadow Trio "Cocoa, Fortune, and Platinum"

Full Exposure Mascara "Jet Black"

Be Legendary Lip Gloss "Disco Rose"

Be Legendary Lipstick "Primrose"

Check out the other available sets in the collection here!

Do you have a favorite set or product? Xx

What I Got For Christmas | A Delayed Haul

Hello lovely reader! I hope you are enjoying your January 2016! This post is one that I have done previously and it is also something that I always look forward to reading from other bloggers. I don't know why we all find this so fascinating but I am definitely one of those people who like to see what other people got. Even though "What I Got For Christmas" posts have become quite popular I still find it necessary to say that this is not in anyway a post of showing off, like I said earlier it is just a way to share things that I like because maybe you will too.

First I will show you what I got in my stocking basically it's a bunch of treats and I was quite excited to find these goodies. I got two holiday edition Cliff bars, which are my current favorite flavors, one being spiced pumpkin and the other iced gingerbread. I also got a package of Cadbury chocolate because they are my absolute favorite chocolates and a pack of holiday edition goldfish also another favorite. And finally I got two Pepperidge Farm treats one being a mini pack of the Milano cookies and another mini pack of the chessman minis.

This first item I received is this Alex and Ani bracelet. These bracelets are a fantastic go to gift because they come in Darius finishes and each charm has a special meaning behind it. They also look super cute the more you get because you can stack them. My mom and cousin absolutely love these bracelets and have a fair few. This was my first one but definitely not my last.

 Next are two books that I received both the fashion themed and absolutely hilarious. I have started reading tales from the back row and it is interesting and entertaining especially for someone who is interested in working in the fashion industry one day. The second book was more of a joke gift but it is actually a really nice book that I saw online a bad a month ago it is a nursery rhyme book but all the lyrics have been changed into fashion related theme this and situations. The illustrations are gorgeous watercolors and the nursery rhymes are quirky, cheeky, and fabulous.

Now onto some makeup, my best friend sent me this "Lorac Pro To Go Palette". I have been using it for the past couple weeks and I would definitely recommend it. The colors are great being that they are neutral. I have been using the brown shades for my every day look but you could also use the darker colors to create a smoky eye more suitable for the night time. The pigmentation of the colors is great and they blend very nicely. The pallet also folds up, as you can see, to become compact, perfect for throwing in your day bag or for a weekend trip.

As I have mentioned before lipstick has quickly become my current makeup obsession so when I opened this I was quite excited and ready to try all the different colors. I had never used Clinique lipstick before so I was interested to see if I would like it or not and I can honestly say that I do. I have been wearing the first and fourth lipstick from the left the most lately, both being more neutral and lighter tones but I am excited to try some of the bolder colors as well.

Now let me begin by saying that when it comes to celebrity perfumes, I am usually quite the skeptic, however, I was given a sample of this at an event and I genuinely liked the smell! It's sweet and light and a more girly scent, but not overwhelming. The bottle is also nice, so if you haven't next time you're out give it a spritz and a sniff!

Yes, I joined the marble laptop bandwagon. I had seen these all over Tumblr and Instagram for months and was so happy when I opened this! I know a lot of places are offering them now, but mine is from a website called UNIQFIND. They send you a clear laptop case and the marble contact paper and then you apply it to the case. It's super easy and I'm pleased with the end result!

Me receiving these two CD's will come as no surprise to many of you as I have raved about both of these artists recently. I have listened to each of these CD's multiple times and I think they are fantastic. Both Adele and Alessia are great storytellers who portray messages that many people can relate to. My favorite songs on these albums change daily but currently off 25 my favorite is "Remedy" and from Know-It-All, "Stone".

Cute, comfy, and cozy. I love Adidas sweatshirts and I can't wait to wear this one. (Also a bit of a monochrome fan....90% of my closet being black, white, or gray)

Saving the best for last, I got a sewing machine! Words can not describe how thrilled I was to open this present and see what I had received. If you are a beginner sewer like me, I would highly recommend this machine. I am currently working on sewing a cape and it has been running so smoothly *knock on wood*. There are so many things I want to make and I cannot wait to create!What did you get for Christmas?? Xx

Happy 2016 | A Quick Update

Hello lovely reader! I hope you are having a good start to 2016. Today's post is more of a chatty post one, which I don't do often but in some ways I see this blog as a bit of a journal and a place to share feelings that other bloggers or readers may be able to relate to. Like most people, I have made a few "New Years Resolutions" one of them being to post more when I have the time which I already seem to be failing at. However, another one of them is to be more optimistic, focusing on the positive side of situations, and not stressing out about unnecessary things. I absolutely love blogging but sometimes I'll hit a bit of a wall as far as things to post, it then spirals into worrying because I haven't posted something in a while, and questioning my content and whether or not I should just quick whip something up in order to have a new post, even if the content is not superb, or if I will loose the traction that within in the last few months I have been quickly gaining (Thanks to you!). I then step back and remind myself of why I started blogging and think about how quality over quantity in the blogging world is one of the most important aspects. (It is also one that I very much value and practice day to day) I also realize that the only person creating this pressure is myself and that it's okay to do something else for a little while.

If I wake up in the morning and feel like creating a post, great I'll do it, but if I wake up and would rather bake something and not document it, that's okay too. Sometimes I feel like blogging and social media in general can keep us from being present. We become so wrapped up in "capturing the moment" with a phone that we miss the actual experience. Staying present is another resolution I have for this year, and while I know it will be one of the hardest ones, I think it will be the most rewarding.

I believe that this cycle can be applied to a lot of things in life, questioning yourself, self doubt, and loosing sight of why you began something. Feeling like your fire within has become a tiny match, and wondering where that massive bonfire went. But with a new year comes a fresh start, and the perfect opportunity to start searching for things that fuel that fire once more, taking time and not rushing, doing certain things when it feels right and not feeling like you must force yourself to do something if your heart isn't fully in it. So after all this, may you be optimistic and present in the coming year! I also want to say thank you to everyone who has continued to or started reading "Not Exactly Plain Jane" this past year. The growth within the last few months alone has been amazing and it makes me so excited for what's to come. I have been given some great opportunities and cannot wait to see what 2016 will bring!

Happy New Year! Xx