Friday Favorites!

So y'all, this will be going up on Thursday instead of Friday, because Friday is New Years! 

I hope you wonderful ladies have had a year for the books! I sure have had an.... 

eventful year. To say the least! Here are my favorites from the ENTIRE year! 

See y'all next year! ;)

Friday Favorites

ONE

My all time favorite of this year was spending some last few sweet moments with my all time favorite person. My mama. 

She was the star of the show (but she never begged to be). Everyone was just drawn to my mama with her radiating love for Christ, her children, and her desire to bring everyone together with food. 

My mama was a STRONG follower of Christ. She came to be a disciple through...

Me. 

How cool is that? I had no idea what I was doing at the time. I was only about 9 years old. We were raised Jewish (against my mother's wishes, but she did not have a true 'religion' to follow). On our way home everyday, we would pass by this huge building with the "3 T's" on top. I was young, and not raised Christian, so I didn't know that was a church!

One day I asked my mama from the back seat of the car. "Hey mama, can we go to the building with the 3 T's?" She said, "That's a church, baby. But of course. We can try it out".

I later became involved with volunteering in the nursery with my mama, which was such a fun time for us to have together.  I then went on to become super involved with the youth group, and even became a part of the worship team. My mama saw how I was changing, and decided she wanted in too. 

About a year later, she was baptized in front of my eyes. One of the most beautiful moments I've ever seen. Why? 

Because my mama was SAVED! And now I have the peace of knowing that she is in Heaven, living without any pain, and hanging out with Jesus ALL DAY LONG. There is nothing that can even come close to that relief, ladies. I pray that you all know Jesus. And if you don't, please let me help show you what it's like to be unconditionally loved :)

As for the rest of what my mama was all about, she LOVED her children more than anything in the world. She would do anything for any of us. And she had this amazing way of making us all feel so special. None of us ever felt left out, or second to another. She was truly meant to be a mother. What a special gift. I am so lucky God chose me to be one of her four children. What an honor. I got so lucky!!

If you don't know already, my mama was also an amazing cook! But she never had a recipe. She just threw things together that were in the fridge and had people begging for her secrets! One of the best things is that she always made enough to give to other people, and feed all of our friends who would come home over lunch (during high school). My mama was all about making soup, eggs, enchiladas, and she was always drinking a glass of red wine. She was just the greatest!

I will FOREVER treasure my mama. I urge you to call your mama or go give her a hug, if you have the opportunity :)

TWO

I have some favorite recipes from this year! 

Take a look at these bad boys :) (they're actually really good!)

Mozzarella Meatballs!

Easy-Peasy Goulash!

Mama's Enchiladas! (scroll to #3)

All 3 of these recipes are constantly on rotation for our meal plans! They're great for everyone! Picky eaters, kiddos, mamas in a hurry. Anyone can make these simple recipes. And I so encourage you to do so :)

THREE

Starting this blog has been a HUGE favorite for me! Not only has is been something to fill my days with, it has given me an opportunity to connect with this AWESOME community! I thank God for this blog everyday!

It took me a little bit of courage to start this. I was worried what people would think of me, worried that people wouldn't read, or that they would hate my content, or that no one would care what I had to say. 

But then I had to look at myself. And I said, Rachel, does it honestly matter? Do this for YOU! 

I have since learned to do more small things throughout the day just for me! Wow. What a difference it makes! It makes you feel important. 

This blog has given me courage, and an amazing outlet to get all my thoughts out. 

Can't wait to ring in this new year with you ladies! Big things are coming :)

FOUR

Something that I totally encourage you guys to try is being positive. 

Sounds simple right?

Well my personality is super sarcastic sometimes. I find it gets some laughs sometimes, but it also was making me look at things really negatively. 

Only until I changed my thoughts in my head did my days really start to turn around for the better. 

Here's what I think you should try. 

Every time you think about something (and it can be anything), try to only say positive things about it. Don't even think about the negative things. If negative things start to arise in your thoughts, look at 3 positive things you can find. 

It actually becomes SUPER easy, and it really changes your demeanor. I have found that people want to be around me a lot more, and I am loving myself more each day, which I think is imperative to your overall health! 

One of my favorite things about thinking positive is what comes with it. Look how true this is!

Every time you start to think negatively, just think about this again! You will see changes so quickly! 

Think about every person you've ever met. And how true this really is! 

Soon enough, you'll be radiating Christ's love. And that is exactly what we are called to do :)

FIVE

My man is one of my all times favorites (forever!)

I cannot tell you how faithful my man has been. 

He has rejoiced with me in the exciting times this year, and carried me through the extremely low valleys. 

What more could I ask for?!

He continues to surprise me every day! I wake up each morning more in love with him than the day before. 

As Brad Paisley would say, "And I thought I loved you then".

Look up the song "Then" by Brad Paisley. 

You'll realize how true this is, especially if you are lucky enough to spend every. single. day. with your soulmate. 

This man inspires me to be a better version of myself, encourages me when I've hit a plateau, and loves me unconditionally. 

There is no doubt in my mind that God made this man for me. That is amazing. 

If you're interested in how we met, check out this post. 

SIX

I can't forget our newest addition! 

He may be driving me crazy. 

And waking up at 3 am. 

And chewing on everything in sight.

But we are determined to make it through these hard (but oh so cute) puppy days to see our little guy grow into the most awesome 'man's best friend'!

Here's to you and your loved ones this year!

Any amazing moments you have to share?? I'd love to know! Post in the comments below :)

Makeup Monday: Holiday Glam

Raise your hand if you have holiday parties coming up! 

Yep, so do we! It's the season for 'em!

This look is subtle enough that you don't look like a discoball in a crowd of snowglobes... BUT you will get some heads turning :)

This look can easily be more sparkly with a couple extra steps, like using a pigment with Mac Fix Plus sprayed on the brush, or if you prefer no sparkles, you can just use a matte cream color on the lid. 

Let's get started!

Makeup Monday

Holiday Glam

1. Prep your face by moisturizing, and then priming. I used the Loreal Lumi Primer. 

2. Brush through your eyebrows with a spooly, then take an eyebrow pencil and fill them in lightly. I will have an eyebrow tutorial coming soon! Make sure to set your brows with a brow gel. I use Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Gel in Clear. 

3. Prime your eyelids with an eyeshadow primer. Set it with a translucent powder. Take a fluffy blending brush and a matte light brown shade. Apply this in your crease (not above or below). Go back and forth in windshield wiper motions. While going back and forth, make small circles with your brush. This is going to help blend out the color to make it seamless. 

Ignore the brows! Growing them out from a past mistake. Ugh! 

Light brown color in the crease and blended.

4. Take a sparkly white shade and apply it to your lid (not into the crease) with a flat shader brush. To make it more sparkly, you can wet your brush with a little water or setting spray and then put the sparkles on your lid. It makes them shine!

Sparkly lid color. Make sure it's not in your crease! 

5. Take a smaller, more pointy blending brush and a dark chocolate brown matter color. Apply this color to the outer V of your eye. Blend just a little into the crease (not too far or you'll take away from the crease color), and just a little onto the outer part of the lid. All of the colors I used for this look are from Anastasia Beverly Hills. The crease shade is Morocco, the sparkly lid shade is Pink Champagne and the outer V color is Fudge.

Building the outer V color up! To the right is the palette I used.

6.  Apply a light coat of mascara. We will be adding lashes later!

7.  Now move onto the foundation. I applied Maybelline Fit me! Dewy and Smooth Foundation in 120. I use a beauty blender to pounce this all over my skin. 

8. Take your concealer and apply it underneath your eyes in an upside down triangle shape with a damp beauty blender. This helps bring light to the right parts of your face. I also like to apply the concealer to the middle of my forehead, down the bridge of my nose, and on the middle of my chin. I used the Makeup Forever concealer.

Do I look crazy enough yet?! Concealer everywhere!

9. Set that beautiful concealer with a translucent loose powder! I use the Laura Mercier Translucent Powder. Set this with a big fluffy brush and it'll help it stay ALL day!

10. Take an angled brush and some bronzer, and contour those cheekbones! You can find the place to contour by sucking in your cheeks and making a fishy face. The hollows of your cheeks is where you place and blend out that bronzer. Make sure to not blend below that hollows of your cheeks. Only above. I used the Mac Pressed Powder in Med Deep.

11.  Take a blush brush and apply any blush to the apples of your cheeks and blending it back to your hairline. I used the Becca Blush in Wild Honey. Oh how I love this blush!

12. Want to look like you're glowing from within?! I know I do :) Apply a highlight to the tops of your cheekbones. I apply it to the tops of my cheekbones and right above the arch of my eyebrow. To connect these two spots on my face and make it more seamless looking, I apply it around the outer C of my eye. It brings it all together! I used Becca Highlight in Champagne Pop. 

13. Apply your false lashes to your now *dry* mascara. I have a post coming soon on this if you need help :) I used Ardell Demi Wispies. 

Lashes on!

14. Choose a super fun lip color! This can be a direct reflection of your personality. I just love a good fun lip color! I used Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick in Catnip. 

15. Enjoy!! This is such a fun look :) 

Sorry for the bad lighting! #BathroomLightingProbs

I know you ladies can rock this! Let me know below if you decided to make this look your own too!

What's Up Wednesday!

Well, y'all, the end of another month is near. Is anyone else still in shock that 2016 is coming so fast?!!! 

I cannot WAIT to see what this year does for my family. And of course yours! 

Let's get started with the LAST What's Up Wednesday of this year! 

What We're Eating This Week

Mozzarella Meatballs

Yep, these are gonna rock your world!!

Honey Teriyaki Seared Chicken

You guys! This stuff is so yummy! And really easy too :)

Tacos

Yes, we really do make these every week. And it's a night off of cooking for me since my man likes to cook these for us. WIN! I also bake these! Makes them so much better!

Just a big 'ol mess of a buncha different foods!

What I'm Reminiscing About

The amazingly WARM weather we had everyday in Hawai'i! It's cold and rainy here now!

This was last year in JANUARY. Yep. I said it. 

This place was 2 miles from our house. It was also where I worked :)

What I'm Loving

Our precious little baby! Coley is home now and we have been having so much fun with him! We absolutely love our baby boy!

What We've Been Up To

Looking at a TON of Christmas lights. There is a large neighborhood about 30 mins from our home, and we have driven there a couple (several) times. We have driven the route, because they have it marked off on which way to go, but we also have put on our heavy coats, beared the cold and walked Cole with us. He loves it!

And bonus, it's gorgeous!

And yes, it does take a couple of hours to get through this neighborhood in the later days of the  month. It's popular around here!

Just so wonderful! We always listen to a Christmas music Pandora station while driving around. I may or may not beg for the Michael Buble Holiday Station...

What I'm Dreading

Wow... I really cannot think of anything I'm dreading. I just feel so thankful for everything right now. Thank you God for this amazing life you've provided me and my little family with :)

What I'm Working On

A couple of things! The first one being this awesome blog! I love the communication that this blog has provided me with the blog world. I also love the creative outlet this has given me. Seriously. It took me so long to start this. Not because I was lazy or anything, but because I was SCARED. I worried that no one would care what I had to say, but once I realized I was doing it for me, it gave me the coolest outlet to express my passions!

I am also working on (with the help of my AMAZING man) training our baby Cole! I am determined to have the best behaved pup, but we are going the route of all humane. There's no shock collars or choking chains for us. We could never bear to do that to our babe! We've been using this clicker, with a lot of success, to teach him. We also have been using these bells for potty training. Hooray for progress :)

What I'm Excited About

Again, a couple of things here! The first would be my man getting a new job! I have been praying for him to be led to the job of his dreams (working with Nike. If any of you work there, or know someone who works there, please let me know!). He may have to work his way up, and we may take a huge pay cut, but he is the most passionate and dedicated leader that I know. He was made to work for Nike. Not to mention, it's been his dream since high school. I know that God will lead us where He needs us. Just praying that it includes my man's passions! 

I am also excited for my best (girl) friend to get here! You know how you have a best girl friend and a best male friend? Well of course my man is my BEST FRIEND. But Kowbear, as we lovingly call her, has been my best friend since the first day of Freshman year in high school. We both have recently gone through HUGE tragedy, me losing my mama (best friend) and grandpa within 20 hours of each other, and her losing her 17 year old cousin in a freak accident over night. We are in need of some down time, some girly girl time (manis, pedis, food, jammies, and good convo) and some healing time. I can't wait for our little family to spend some time with her. Plus she'll be meeting Cole for the first time. What's more healing than that sweet baby?

This is Kowbear! She will be my maid of honor, my children's god mother, and she has been a wonderful amazing best friend. In the pic on the left, we were heading to a water fall in Hawai'i, Kowbear is in the back of the car. My man is in the passenger seat. In the pic on the right, we are heading to the beach right after I got out of work! Kowbear is on the left.

What I Have Been Watching/Reading

Well, like any other makeup artist/ makeup lover, I watch Youtube videos all the time! I mean, I'm not sitting around for hours watching them, but just like I keep up with blogs that I like, I weekly catch up with youtubers that I like. If you're interested to know who I'm watchin', I would be happy to share in a blog post! Just for a little teaser, I definitely watch Jaclyn Hill!



I have really been slacking on reading actual books. And I find that sad because I really enjoy reading books. It's like a little escape. I really want to read the book Troublemaker by Leah Remini!





What I'm Listening To

Well, y'all... Of course you know I'm listening to the Michael Buble Christmas Pandora Station... But other than that, here's a list of songs I've been loving!

1. Oceans by Hillsong United
2. Biscuits by Kacey Musgraves
3. Hey Mama by David Guetta
4. Fireproof by One Direction
5. Confident by Demi Lovato
6. Love Yourself by Justin Bieber
7. Sorry by Justin Bieber
8. Cake By The Ocean by DNCE
9. Hello by Adele
10. Cali Get Down by Radical Something


What I'm Wearing

A lot of sweatpants and jammies. I haven't put jeans on in a long time! Not because I can't fit or anything. But I just don't want to. Healing takes a lot of energy out of you, friends. A lot. I guess I thought I would be crying a lot more than I am, but honestly, it's more of just wanting to stay home and cuddled up. Healing has to happen. It's a part of life. I'm just glad God has provided me with the best people who support me and love me no matter what, and has provided me with the time and flexibility to have this down time. Thank you Lord! You are such an amazing provider :)



Been lookin' a lot like this!

What I'm Doing This Weekend

Well, not quite sure yet! Any ideas from you ladies? I think we may go do something to soak up these last moments of the Christmas season!

I know that Christmas Eve, and possibly Christmas day church services will be happening. We just have not found a home church here yet (mostly because we haven't been here long and we plan on moving VERY soon). I would love to find a gorgeous church to hear praises be sung in. I have never been into one of those Catholic churches with the huge stained glass and all of that. I think that would be a super cool thing to experience!





What I'm Looking Forward To Next Month

We are hoping new job, so possibly a new place? That always takes a lot of work, but I would love to find a city that we want to settle down in.

I would absolutely love to move closer to my older sister and brother in law, and my nieces. But the city that they live in is not very desirable. Plus, we have yet to get any job offers there despite sending out a ton of applications! There's just not a ton of places to work out there in my man's expertise. Pray that God leads us where He needs us!



What Else Is New

Well, gosh! Not much. I feel as though I already spilled all those beans to you above! Hmm... How about, instead of trying to think of something else (which I can't think of much else!), y'all share something new that's going on in your lives in the comments!

Can't wait to here from y'all!

Makeup Monday: Lustrous Lip Glosses

Okay, ladies... If that title doesn't entice you, then I don't know what will!

But I can't really take credit for it. After all, I am talking about the Lustrous Lip Gloss Set from Anastasia Beverly Hills!

If y'all don't know who she is, she has become INCREDIBLY popular over the past year or so. She's consistently coming out with new and innovative makeup products that are constantly being sold out (that's how good they are). 

So she recently came out with this gift set. The Lustrous Lip Gloss Set. 

This set is NOT for the faint of heart.

If you are looking for a light wash of color that you have to apply at least 15 times throughout the day, then DON'T get these. 

BUT. If you're looking for amazing quality lip glosses that hardly ever need to be touched up, then you've come to the right place :)

Let's get started!

Makeup Monday

Lustrous Lip Gloss Set

I have to start out by saying, I don't know how long this set will be available. My gut feeling says through the holiday, so do NOT bank on this being here year round. 

But I think you should take the plunge and spoil yourself with these glosses. Here's why:

1. This lip gloss set is $40. Does that sound like a lot? Let's break it down. 

-8 full size glosses.

-Same great quality as the individual glosses (sometimes companies skimp on the quality when putting out holiday sets because they are mass producing them. But not here!)

-A full range of shades (anywhere from nude, to gold, to hot pinks, to dark cherry).

8 full size glosses at $40 equals $5 a piece. That's cheaper than almost all drugstore lip glosses!

2. The color payoff in these is AMAZING. You only need one swipe of these babies, making them last EVEN longer!

3. These are not sticky (well at least I don't feel like they are). 

4.  These do not have any type of overwhelming smell. This can be a tricky area for some. I have friends who get very sick if a lip gloss smells too strong... hello it's right under your nose! But these do not have any type of bad smell. 

5. These last on your lips for so long! I have gotten 6 hours of wear out of one application. That's right. You heard me. 

6 hours.

Throughout that 6 hours, I ate white cheddar popcorn, drank water from a water bottle (without a straw), ate my dinner (which was spaghetti), went shopping for a couple of hours, and talked to people for at least 4/6 of those hours. 

Seriously. These babies stay on!

This is right after application

So is this...

This is on my drive home.. in the dark... in the rain. So I figured you needed an up close pic of the color staying. 

THIS IS 6 HOURS LATER. No other applications except for my very first one when applying it. No lip liner underneath. Only lip gloss. 

After 7 hours. I had been home for an hour and was still impressed! Still no other applications. 

This color that I'm wearing in all the pics above is Weekend Barbie. 

Colors left to right: Gilded, Dainty, Sunset Strip, Metallic Rose, Weekend Barbie, Date Night, Socialite, Black Cherry. 

Gilded: Gold lip gloss with tiny gold shimmers in it. Surprisingly flattering! You can even use this on top of another gloss or lipstick to give it a different look. Or apply this to the middle of your lips to make your lips appear larger. 

Dainty: A light nude pink. I just love these colors in general. This is not a sheer wash of color though. It is opaque!

Sunset Strip: Similar to Gilded, but more coral in tone. This will be beautiful in the summer time!
This one also has a light shimmer in it. Therefore, it will reflect off of your lips, making them appear larger. 

Metallic Rose: Exactly how it says. This is a mauve-rose color, with some shimmer in the gloss. It is a super flattering, "your lips but better" color. 

Weekend Barbie: This is a hot pink color (the one I'm wearing above). It also has some slight shimmer to it, but not too overboard. This pink has a blue undertone which makes your teeth look whiter! Win-win!

Date Night: Right in between pink and red. It's so hard to explain. But this will also be beautiful in the summertime. 

Socialite: Pure red lip gloss. Amazing staying power. This will be perfect for holiday looks, or any time, really! You cannot go wrong with a true red shade. Really. Everyone needs one!

Black Cherry: This one is quite dark, but it has a purply, reddish undertone. Especially when you are in the light, it really complements the lips. This will look different on every skin tone. But it's so flattering!

I'm not affiliated with Anastasia Beverly Hills (although that would be so fun!). I just honestly think that you ladies need these glosses in your life! 

You can find them here and here. 

Tell me what you think about these, girls! 

My opinion?? YOU NEED THESE NOW!!!

:)