writing again

i've gone away from writing stories for a while, and it sucks. my problem has never been starting, but saying "what's next?" and answering that question. i have a million three-page stories that go no where.

i've always wanted to be a published writer, not just a writer. when i was younger, i wanted to be a pulitzer-prize-winning published writer. i think that idea has gone by the wayside. these days it would be a massive accomplishment to finish something. so i'm trying. you can't write nothing, i read somewhere once. it might be crap, but that's not the point. it's getting written.

current writing inspirational song: bon iver, "holocene"

the perfect non-neutral neutral lipstick

i'm not a big drugstore makeup buyer - for good reason. most of it is as cheap in quality as it is in price, and i'd rather pay more for a better product. HOWEVER, if i have, have, have to buy makeup at walmart, i go for l'oreal or revlon every time. more expensive than cover girl (or zeus forbid, her evil stepsister maybelline), but there is a correlation between price and quality with makeup.
one of those exceptions is my new favorite lipstick, in a neutral-but-not-quite-neutral color. revlon colorburst lipstick in peach is a fabulously flattering shade that compliments every skin tone - perfect when you need just that little bit of color. the light melon shade will bring out the pinks in your cheeks and is so suited for summer - though i'll be using this lippy for a long time.

orange lips are popping up on red carpets everywhere, but this look can be really hard to pull off. major props (do people still say props?) to emma watson, who paired her bright orange lips with a neon chartreuse dress at the after-party for the mtv movie awards - and looked a-mah-zing.

the peach lip is a way to stay on trend and still remain neutral. at $9, revlon colorburst lipstick definitely on the high end for drugstore makeup, but this is one color i'm going to be wearing for a while.

credit to bubz for pointing this out to me in her bridal look video.

monday must-haves

so it's monday, and i've had to have my finger pricked today, which on any normal day would make me cranky - but i lost just a little weight over the weekend. i'll take what i can get.

here's my must-have for this could-have-been-bad-but-is-actually-good monday:

kate spade maryanne bag, on sale for $187

until i can afford chanel, this shall fill my quota for one gorgeous quilted bag. oh who am i kidding? this is BETTER than chanel. look at that color. shocking pink actually does go with everything - just don't wear more than one piece of it at a time. this is the kind of accessory i would wear to dress up jeans and a button down (with bright yellow flats, of course!) or an LBD out to dinner. i love everything about this bag, especially the price.

makeup review: buxom lip plumper

i confess: i'm a sucker for lip gloss. and lip stick, and lip stains. pretty much any makeup. it's hard to go grocery shopping without picking up something.

in the lippy area, i tend towards glosses. my lips tend to be dry, so i gravitate towards products that i can actually feel on my lips. buxom lip plumpers come in a multitude of colors and instantly work the moment you put them on. my lips feel tingly and cool, and i especially love the color. i went with destiny, a peachy color that is super flattering, especially for summer. i ordered this product a few weeks ago, and just ordered a second tube because i've used it so much. at $18, buxom lip plumpers are on the low end of sephora's price scale, making them even more worth it.

bottom line: two out of two lips plumped to perfection, yummy taste and smell and perfect color. i am now obsessed!