A Day in the life of

Wow, my first vlog. Bear with me as I learn how to make my videos better. I feel fairly decent about this one for being my first long video. I took it all with my phone, too.

I hope to keep doing more, but don't worry, I'll still write. 

As always,

Thankful Thursday

Yes, I know it's Friday, but this week has been intense.

I started a new job roughly two weeks ago working at an assisted living facility. I specifically work in the memory care department. It's rewarding and trying all a the same time, 

Right now, I'm thankful for that job. It's hard and complicated yes, but at the same time I'm not attached to a head set. I'm up, moving around. Doing things. 

I'm on a learning curve that goes two ways in a sense. I have to learn memory care and how to plan things that people in that division will want to do. 

At the same time though, it's something as simple as taking a woman in a wheelchair back and forth in a little yard. Just a few times. Or talking with them and painting their nails. 

As always,  

In Search Of. . . Beauty: Fave Beauty products

So, I still wanted to do my Ipsy bag review this month without adding an extra post to my work load. It worked out well with the favorite beauty products theme for the day. 

So we begin with the bag. This month was all about alter egos, so the bag was a bit two faced. 

I think there was too much contrast on the black bag, or maybe I deleted the background. Anyway, one side was black patent leather and the other side was a nice shiny gold. It's a square bag. I don't feel like it fits a lot of make up that well. I actually use it as a little wallet for my phone and work stuff. I keep my lipstick of the day in there. 

When I tell people that I do Ipsy, they often ask me if it's worth it. I can't say yes or no for you. I think it is so far. To help people decide I'm going to add the price range if I can. Some of these don't have a price/size range available.

So we'll go in order of least to greatest. 

The Aromachology .12 oz Exotic and Spicy

 

I'm picky about perfumes. I only like specific smells, and this wasn't one of them. It kind of reminded me of an old lady. In fact, I gave it to an old lady who really liked it. 

I tried to find the travel size on the Aromachology website, but it only listed the full size one for $70.

The Emite Makeup Tweezers

For the life of me, I couldn't seem to get these right side up. 

These are tweezers. They're pretty good, but they're tweezers, nothing special. 

If you buy them from the Emite Make up website, they cost $25.

Meet Matt(e) Hughes Matte Lipstick .04 oz

I got the color Committed, which is a great natural lip color. This lipstick smells like mint chocolate which is amazing, but it takes forever to dry. 

When it does dry, it has a consistently sticky texture around the inner part of your lips. The outer part however, is so dry you can't rub your lips together. 

It does last a lot longer compared to most regular non-matte formulas I've tried, but don't put any kind of oil on top of it. If you do that, it becomes exactly the same and comes of immediately. 

A full size goes from 13-17 depending on where you buy it. 

MicaBeauty Cosmetics Cream Eye shadow .14oz

This is actually an Ipsy exclusive, which means you can only get the formula from an Ipsy bag. That is actually one really cool thing about Ipsy. Some of there things you can't get anywhere else. 

I got the color bronze, which is the lid color in pictures. It spreads pretty well, and lasts pretty well. It will stay put if you have an eye primer. It goes on just like a regular eye shadow despite being a cream. 

A MicaBeauty Cosmetics sells for roughly $15 for a full size pot. Even with this one, little one it's still going to last a while. 

Lastly, my favorite thing in the bag. 

Vasanti Brighten Up! Face Rejuvenator Travel Size 

This is manna from heaven, only I know what it is. (Manna means "what is it?) It's a enzymatic facial scrub and it works wonders. 

I exfoliate nearly every night, just because if I don't my body freaks out. I have a good one from Ulta, but I want to buy this in a full size next time I'm ready to. It leaves my skin baby soft and gets it really clean. The beads are extra fine which is really good for your face, since the skin there is delicate. 

This one costs 10.00 for this size, a full size costs 34.00. In my opinion, this one makes it worth the 10.00 cost, and the bag. Those things are really nifty, and I'll probably use them as gift bags in the future once I've accumulated a fair stock. 

So that's my review of the October Ipsy Bag. 

Let me know if you like the addition of the prices either by email at insearchofwonderment@gmail.com

Or

Twitter, Instagram, or Tumblr via the links to the right. 

As Always, 

In Search Of. . . Starbucks Secret Menu: The Zombie

In Search Of. . . Starbucks Secret Menu: The Zombie

Here's something a little seasonal. 

This one actually takes care of three things.

1. Seasonal--it's a zombie, even though I hate zombies. 

2. Gets rid of a green tea frappe. 

3. I get to take a fun picture. 

Doesn't the raspberry sauce look like blood? Sometimes I like effects on a camera. 

So this one is super simple. 

Green Tea Frappucino

whipped cream

2-3 pumps of raspberry sauce on top. 

Done.

Simple, no?

Verdict, this one tasted like someone put sugar on the hay. I took three sips and then finished, which is why I got a tall. I wish I had got a mini, but they don't offer those any more. 

What can you do though? 

I had more fun with the picture than the actual drink. I have a feeling that's how all these drinks are going to be for me. 

As always, 

In Search Of. . . A Good Do-it-yourself: Tips for a new blogger

Well, again, this is one of those things that I feel is better asked of someone who isn't stumbling his way blindly in this blogging thing. 

AKA Not Me. 

But, It's part of the challenge, and I shall deliver.

To deliver, I decide to search the internet for help.

Here are fifteen tips I've found. 

15. Create Artificial Limitations

For example, writing prompts, like this one. Or write continuously for so many minutes. 

14. Write about the interesting things that you do. 

I could run a daily blog, but as you guys saw in my last "A Day in the Life Of" blog, it would be super boring. However, the time I went to LA was interesting. So I blogged about it.

 13. Be Consistent. 

Things that are updated sporadically, will be read sporadically. I didn't drive my readership up until I started writing daily. 

12. Find A Schtick. 

A thing to write about. Normally comes from the blog name or inspiration. Or you could do challenges.  

11. Use Social Media. 

You can blog all you want and someone may come across your website. However, if you share on your Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, and Pinterest, it reaches that many more people who will go back to blog and learn to love you. 

10. Don't expect immediate results and readership. 

Doing this daily challenge has obviously helped me have more people. I swear though, it's not as many as I would like. They aren't rushing in by the droves. Now, I could see the amount of people hitting my blog and be discouraged, but why? 

I'm a beginning blogger. Rome wasn't built in a day. 

9. Link to other sites. 

If you take something from somewhere, link it. Or if you have friends that you want to give shout outs too, do it. It helps them and you. They're more likely to give you a shout out back. 

8. Be yourself.

I think this one is vague, but I've seen it a lot. I can understand where it's coming from, though. If I tried to be someone else, then it wouldn't sound right for me. It would sound forced and practiced. 

Have your own voice and know that it changes, but it's always your voice. 

7. You don't have to write all the time. 

I know I've done daily blogging this month, but I won't next month. You don't always have to post something every day. It'll burn you out. 

6. Diversify.

Yes, your short little videos may suck (mine do) or you may not be the best photographer, but people like different things. Try to add variety. 

5. Plan. 

I like these challenge things mostly because it's pre-planning. It takes a little of that blank page, blinking cursor terror out of blogging. Too, planning allows you to write things in advance. Unless you're a last minute person, a little advance writing never killed anyone. 

I'm hoping that as I grow, I will be able to come up with my own challenges, but all those things require planning. 

4. Be Relevant

As with most writing, you need to think to yourself, why would someone want to read this? Or, Would people want to read this? It will help you stay relevant to your blog and to people.  

3. Have an attractive Layout

Think of yourself as a reader coming to a blog. Does it look clean and neat, which I hope mine does, or does it look cluttered. Are you distracted by the side bars and header? Do things match? 

I know if you go back on my blog, you'll see older posts that matched older themes, but for the most part, I try to keep it all pretty uniform. 

2. Network

This falls under social media, but commenting on other peoples blogs will put your name out there and encourage others to look back at yours. 

1. Write. 

This one is obvious, but sometimes it gets over looked. Unless you're doing a vlog, you can't over look the writing. Try to write something everyday, even if you don't post. 

Writing is a skill that if you don't use you loose. 

There's my list. It's not comprehensive, but I think it's fairly decent. If you have any more ideas, 

As always, 

In Search Of . . . Written words: favorite things about the holidays

Personally, I don't like Halloween. I don't like being afraid or scared, or creepy clowns. 

My favorite thing would be when it's over. 

In it's origin, Halloween falls in line with the Day of the Dead. It's a time when the lines between the dead and the living are blurred. Since that line blurred it made it easier for priests to make predictions. They did a lot of animal sacrifices to their gods and spirits for healthy crops. 

Eventually, the Catholics took it over and made it into their own thing, which is what seemed to happen with every major holiday. 

 And yes, I'm aware of the origin of Christmas trees and whatnot, but that holiday has a completely different origin.

For me, it's the horror that follows Halloween that I can't abide. I find no reason to be scared. Or frightened. Now mind you, I'll watch a Tim Burton movie, and those are usually so absurd that they aren't too horrible. And I don't mind thrillers, but I can't do out right horror, even comical horror. I won't sleep for days. I don't even like seeing the advertisements for the scary things. 

Costumes, as I've said are cool. I have no problem with them. Dressing up and being someone else for a little while is all right. It kind of falls in line with the idea of who do I want to be today when you get ready every morning.

I do however, like the idea of harvests and fall festivals. Something to celebrate the change of season and the beginning of a new season. I mean, harvest is a reason to celebrate. In the old days, we would have been working all warm season long and now it would be time to see the literal fruits of our labor. 

I like the changing when the world is suddenly on this warm fire, that means warm clothes can come out, since I'm always sick of my summer clothes by now. 

Pies suddenly become more acceptable. So does gaining a little winter weight. 

Those are the things I like. 

Halloween, no.

Fall, yes.

As always, 

In Search Of. . . Adventure: Weekend Highlights

Weekend Highlights that included my working. I didn't have a really busy weekend, and yet I did. 

Friday I spent learning to drive a 13 passenger bus. That was an adventure. Saturday was slightly more productive I think.

My roommate and I got a bunch of books. Goodwill was have a 50% off sale on their books, and when you're getting to half off 2.99 it's hard to pass up. 

This isn't all of them. I also got Metamorphosis, Fahrenheit 451, and more Michael Crichton Books. I need to write out a list of his books. 

Today I worked. It was work, and I try to keep my work off line just in case I do or say something that the company may not like. Not that I would do anything, but you never know. 

So, here is my outfit and make up.

And that is my weekend Highlights 

As always, 

In Search Of. . . Fitness: Favorite Work Out Songs

So... my playlist is super long. I think I said before I use my playlist for everything. I don't have specific songs that I like for working out only. 

Now I will say this, I always try to find clean versions of these songs. So I apologize if you listen and there's something horrible in the song. When I listen I try to find the version on the radio. 

I guess if I went through and narrowed it down I could make a small list for you guys. So here goes nothing, sorry if you notice a lot of repeating artist. As varied as I am, if the shoe fits buy it in every color.

Meghan Trainor-- All About That Bass

Alexandra Stan-- Mr. Saxobeat

Shakira--

Rabiosa Ft. Pitbull

Addicted to you

She Wolf

Empire

Can't Remember to Forget You Ft. Rihanna

La Roux--Bulletproof

Jennifer Lopez--

On the Floor Ft. Pitbull

Dance Again Ft. Pitbull

Live it up Ft. Pitbull

Fun.: We are Young Ft. Janelle Monae

Demi Lovato--Heart Attack

Pitbull--

Timber Ft. Ke$sha

Rain over me Ft. Marc Anthony

Give Me Everything Ft. Ne-Yo Afrojack, Nayer

Feel this Moment Ft. Christina Aguilera

Bon, Bon

Fun. Ft. Chris Brown

Get it Started Ft. Shakira

Wild, Wild Love ft. G.R.L

Don't Stop the Party (super clean version) Ft. TJR

Can't Stop Me Now Ft. The New Royales

Austin Mahone-- Mmm, Yeah Ft. Pitbull

Nayer Ft. Pitbull and Mohombi--Suavemente

Priyanka Chopra-- Exotic Ft. Pitbull

INNA-- Good Time Ft. Pitbull 

Panic! At the Disco--I Write Sins Not Tragedies

Cobra Starship: You Make me Feel Ft. Sabi

Paramore: Still into You

Rachel Platten-- Fight Song

OneRepbulic--Love runs out

Timbaland--If We ever Meet again. Ft. Katy Perry

Hot Chelle Rae--

Tonight, Tonight

I like it Like that Ft. New Boyz 

Honestly

Hung Up

Whatever

Neon Tree--

Everybody Talks

Animal

I feel like this list could go on forever, but it won't because I have immensely more songs than this on my list of music. But not all of it's work out songs. I'm to lazy to make a list. 

As always, 

In Search Of. . Beauty: Past Costumes

I don't celebrate Halloween. LE GASP. The whole world is ending. I swear to cow. The Horror! THE HORROR. 

Totally, kidding. It's a personal preference. It's not the dressing up. I don't think there's anything wrong with dressing up. It's about celebrating demons.

Before you decide that you hate me, remember, I'm not saying you can't celebrate Halloween, I'm just saying that I don't. 

So I decided that you guys could be Twiggy for a costume party. 

Obviously it's not exact. But it's as close as an amateur can get. So, first you start with the blank face.

Then do your color correct, concealer, foundation, and powder. 

This is actually a simple look to complete. You prime your eyes if you're going to wear it for a while. I didn't because I was washing it off immediately. 

I used my Maybeline Brights Pallete for this whole thing. 

First, take a black. 

Take a small pointed brush and load it up. Place it slightly above your crease and apply it darkly.

Next you take a white on a flat brush. 

Apply it to the lid and up into the black. Again, apply it thickly. You can also apply a light, bright blue, but I had white on hand. 

This is kind of what it looks like when you're done.

Next, you apply your eye liner. You'll need a black liquid black liner. I used NYC liquid liner. 

Do a thick line and flick it down at the end. The next part is the hardest. Twiggy always had the bottom eyelashes drawn on. This takes practice.

I drew little triangles under my eye. Like I said, it takes practice. Even this is a little messy. You can always wipe away and begin again. If your eye liner brush is too thick, you can put some eye liner on  your hand and get a skinnier brush.

Now, you can either buy a nude lipstick or make your own. I took the concealer and put it on my lips until they were a light white. I have an old Mally peach lip gloss that I put it over.

It turned out like this. I feel like that looked about right for the 60's Mod looked. You don't have to do this nude kind of color. Sometimes I saw pictures of her with brighter make up. So it's up to you. 

Next, hair. Again, here's another video. Still working on quality. 

And we're done: 

In Search Of. . . Adventure: A Day In The Life Of

So I my day normally begins around 6:30 AM. It used to be I rolled out of my bed and rushed to work, but I changed jobs, so now I just get up and take my time. It's not that bad. 

This morning I got up to take a shower rather than last night because it's been inordinately cold. After that I let the dog downstairs, make coffee and my shake. 

It's in my car because I forgot to take a picture. It's chocolate slimfast, a little sugar, unsweetened almond milk and ice. It's more slushie style. 

I got dressed and since I wanted to wear my super cute plaid shoes. I picked this outfit

I kind of wish I had a close up of my shoes. They are super adorable. I got them from Forever 21 one day. The skirt is from Dillards. I don't remember any thing else.

And of course, a close of up of my make up

Ignore my fat face. The lipstick is a Just Bitten lip stain under the NARS red lipstick. My blue is the typical blue colors I use. 

I leave around 8:00 to get to work roughly around 8:30. I get there a little bit early and sit in my car to send off an email and doodle around for a few minutes. Here's a shot of me and my signature coffee cup. 

I just realized, I have a tendency to do duck lips. Not intentionally. I hold all my tension in my mouth. So, no, I'm not trying to duck lips. 

I don't really have any other food pictures. At work, I have to be careful about picture taking. 

So here, have a cactus. 

I did a little video. It's literally 33 seconds long. 

The rest of the day involved work. A lot of work. I didn't leave until 6:30 PM. I always try to be careful of talking about what I do on work. It doesn't always work, but at the same time, I try. 

Once I got home, I went to Starbucks with my roommate. I tried the new Graham thing, but it wasn't anything extraordinary. 

I live a boring life normally. 

As Always,