Makeup Monday: NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream Review

Dear Diary,

I took a little trip up to the Pittsburgh Waterfront last week. I (of course) decided to do a little shopping at Ulta. If you know me, you know I basically live in Ulta. My poor boyfriend had to wait while I shopped...

Anyway, I spent a long time in the NYX section. Y'all know how much NYX products mean to me! I decided to try the NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream because I just love the matte lipstick that NYX makes.

Here's how it went:

The lipsticks are named after cities. So, my favorite city in the world is London, and that is the first one I checked out. I totally loved the color, but it was super similar to the color of Abu Dhabi- which is the color I ultimately picked. It is that brownish-mauve color that I love. But once I got home and tried them on my lips, I wish I would have gone ahead and bought London as well because the color was more mauve than brown, which Abu Dhabi ended up being (that brown color).


Here is Abu Dhabi:

The color is great, and I do love it, but I regret buying London (I will definitely buy this soon).

I love how smooth and almost silky the product is. It has a great long-lasting color and I would say it lasts pretty much all day (6-8 hours without reapplying).


I also bought Cannes, which is a more pink color and looks like this:

(top color)

Overall, I really like this product. I think it is a great buy, for just about $5! Perfect!

Top Ten on my Bucket List

Dear Diary,

I get to travel to the UK this summer, and I have never been so excited or blessed to do anything in my life. My mom and I are going to fly out to see my sister, who has been studying abroad in Ireland this semester. We will be there for fifteen days-just enough time to see all I want to!

Since I get to go to my dream country, I have been thinking about a lot of the other things on my bucket list. 

Here are the top ten things I want to accomplish/do before I die. 

10.) Run a full and/or half marathon || Back in high school, my best friend ran the Buffalo Marathon at 17 years old. My friends and I went up there to support her, and ever since then I have wanted to try to run one. Just imagine how accomplished you would feel-like you could do anything!

9.) Learn how to surf || I can't swim very well, so I'd have to practice my water-treading skills before this...Surfing looks like so much fun and such a good workout. I also love all the little fishies as well!

8.) Go on a hot air balloon ride || Unfortunately, my boyfriend is afraid of heights, so this might be something I do with a friend or my sister. I've actually always wanted to be proposed to in a hot air balloon. I'd love that view.

7.) Study abroad || My sister has now studied abroad twice. I've always wanted to travel, and I'm so excited to study in a whole other country! Maybe London, maybe Amsterdam, maybe Athens!

6.) Swim with dolphins || Dolphins are so cute! Again, I really should learn to swim, but I've got time!

5.) Go on an African safari || How amazing would that be?! Giraffes are my favorite animal, and I would love to be able to see them up close and personal. That would be beautiful, and such an amazing experience.

4.) Go on a mission trip to Africa || In high school, I was apart of the Interact Club and we were lucky enough to donate three water wells to a community in Niger. Ever since then, I have wanted to volunteer in that area. I feel like it is a life-changing opportunity, and I feel bad that I have everything I need and more, but the people who live in third-world countries have close to nothing. That is not fair.

3.) Live in a tiny home || I did a whole post on tiny homes here, check it out!

2.) Have my own talk show || This is a lifelong dream of mine. Jimmy Fallon, Johnny Carson, Ellen DeGeneres. I have always wanted to be a talk show host. (Eliza Grace at 8!)

1.) Have a family || I've dreamt about my wedding since I was 11 years old, and even walked around with a water ballon baby for a year (his name was Horatio). I've always wanted a family!


What are some items on YOUR bucket list?

Until next time,

Eliza Grace

Tiny Homes

Dear Diary,

Lately I have been addicted to watching tiny house tour videos on YouTube. I can't help myself! They are so amazing, and economically such great ideas. I have always been interested in interior design and architecture, and designing and even building, my own home sounds like the perfect experience.

I want to build my own tiny home after college...or at least that's what I am hoping for. The homes are usually around 200 square feet. That may sound small, but there are so many storage opportunities and space-saving tricks to use that makes the place seem so much bigger.

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The smaller houses can be built on a foundation (like above) or on a trailer for transportation (like below). Building on a trailer gives you the excuse to travel. This can make paying for rent on land such an easier process. 

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You can even do an "off-grid" tiny home, that makes you completely independent from plumbing, electric, and water. Plumbing can be solved with a composting toilet which uses saw dust to cover excrement and can be used in your garden. Electric can be supplied by solar panels, and water can be caught and filtered through a rain water collection process.

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Tiny homes are a great way to save money, especially if you decide to go off-grid. 

I love the sleeping lofts, as well. If you want more head room, people make their tiny homes in a "shack-like" way-with a slanted roof on one side, instead of both.

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All in all, I love the tiny home movement. I think it is such a great idea for singles, couples or small families. I would not try to raise an entire family in it...the close proximity might become a bit claustrophobic for  me! I just love this idea so, so much!

What do you think about the tiny house?

Until next time,

Eliza Grace

Makeup Monday: 5 Products I Need in my Life

Dear Diary,

I am a makeup fanatic. I am a bit embarrassed of all the makeup I own, but don't always use. Nonetheless, I can't help my addiction, and I cannot stop myself for craving more and more. 


Here is a little list of the makeup products I've been dying to get my hands on:

1.) Too Faced: Bronzer in Milk Chocolate Soleil || This bronzer is a little darker than the Chocolate Soleil color that Too Faced has, and it is perfect for my ivory skin tone. Since it's winter, I've been pretty in to all kinds of bronzer. I've been looking for some matte color, and this looks perfect. Unfortunately, it is pretty expensive for my taste- $30!- and that is why I haven't bought it just yet. Maybe if I'm feeling splurgy one day I will get it! 

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2.) Makeup Forever: HD Blush in Rosy Plum || This. Color. I haven't used it on my face yet, but I tried it on my hand, and I could not believe how creamy it looked for a powder blush. It also has an almost highlight to it, and you probably wouldn't have to apply a highlight with this blush at all. It's flawless. This one is also a little more expensive at $26 in Sephora stores. 

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3.) Maybelline: Long Lasting Drama Gel Liner in Blackest Black || I've really been getting in to gel liners lately. They are perfect for every day upper lash liners. I usually use a liquid liner for my weekend-y activities, and a gel liner is fantastic for a smudge-proof alternative for daily treks to and from class! Also it is only about $10!

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4.) NYX: Eye Shadow Base in Skin Tone || I love primers! I tested this one out from a friend, and I fell in love! I applied it when I did my makeup in the morning, and my eyeshadow hadn't budged until I took it off before bed! I was amazed at how great of quality it was for a drugstore brand...then again I love NYX products. Bonus: It is only $7-can you say bargain?

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5.) Wet n Wild: MegaLast Lip Color in Rose-bud || I always have to have a lippie! This color is fantastic! It is the perfect shade of purple and red and I love it. I'm obsessed with this darker mauve lipstick color that I've seen a ton of people wearing lately. And, as always, this drugstore product is at an inexpensive $2.29-you really can't beat that!

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I hope you enjoyed looking at my list of products I've been dying to try! If any of you guys try these, please leave a comment telling me how you liked it! I'll be sure to leave a review of the ones I end up getting!

What products are you guys wanting to try out?

Until next time,

Eliza Grace