Thanksgiving 2013

Hobo

Every year it seems I struggle to find what I am truly thankful for. I mean, I am lucky I am able to work, have a job, I can walk, I can breathe, I have a roof over my head, etc;

This year, I am most thankful for my cats. My Hobo cat is a wonderful, fun, adorable ball of fluff. He makes me smile. We were lucky enough to adopt a wonderful cat we named Oliver last week from Cocheco Valley Humane Society. He is 5, which is perfect as Hobo is 4. They are getting along fabulously! It is so nice to have two cats who seem to enjoy each other's company. They definitely brighten my day. It is impossible to be miserable while interacting with these two handsome boys!

I am also very happy to be back employed by a school district driving school buses again! Although I am technically a temp, I have my foot in the door for the one local bus company I really really want to work for. I am hoping by next year there is a full time position open.

Lets hope next Thanksgiving will bring about a happier entry. 

Review: Rimmel London Scandaleyes RetroGlam Mascara

I am a newcomer to makeup, I only started learning how to apply makeup a little over a year ago. Yeah, I know, late to the game at 27, but I was a tomboy in high school and never bothered to learn even for special events, but I was missing out! Now, I like to wear makeup for date days or special events. I have amassed a rather decent collection, mostly thanks to couponing and Ipsy (which I will review in an upcoming blog post).

Used for this look

Another way I have acquired new makeup is through Influenster. In the past I received the Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream which I enjoyed. This most recent VoxBox, the Rose VoxBox, contained Rimmel London Scandaleyes Retrogram Mascara. I have found my new mascara! It's amazing! It makes my lashes look so long and dramatic and the best feature, IT DOESN"T CLUMP! As I said, I am a newcomer to makeup, but the other mascaras I own do not go on as smoothly and nicely producing such a glamorous effect as this Rimmel London one does. You can find this in stores starting November 2013.

One of my tasks to complete the badge for the VoxBox (which will allow me to receive more Rimmel Products!) was to create a video or a blog detailing a 60s glam look. Well, you may know I do not do videos if I have to talk in it, self conscious of my voice, blah blah, blah...so a blog post it is!

Of course the first step in creating a 60s look for me was to google what 60s makeup looked like. I found a WikiHow that I used as inspiration for my look. It was a nice simple tutorial I was easily able to follow.

The first step was to pluck my slightly neglected eyebrows. Ugh, what a PITA that is, but at least I've gotten pretty good at it. Thank you internet! My Chella eyebrow filler helps define my brows.

My next step was using my Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream to even out my skin tone. It is a really great product! I had tried to use a primer and traditional liquid foundation, but it turns out my skin desperately needs exfoliating and it was doing a weird scaly thing. Gross. So off it came and the BB cream was the perfect solution, providing coverage plus much needed moisturization.

A quick sweep of NYX Cream Blush and Pixi Beauty Bronzer (both found in my Ipsy bag!). A nude lipgloss from Juice Beauty topped off my base look.

As suggested by the tutorial, I swept a pearly white eyeshadow across my lids and up to my brow bone. A light blue went across my lids. My Cailyn gel eyeliner was perfect for the thick liner with a nice wedge finish rather than a cat eye.

To really tie the 60s glam look together, the lengthening property of the Scandaleyes Mascara really topped it off. It gave me a nice open eyed look. It did not irritate my sensitive eyes either, another plus! I definately recommend trying this mascara! I know it is my new go-to!

The sad thing is, I spent time on this lovely look, but I have no where to go! Must be for the best as it is the middle of the first extreme cold snap of the season.

Review: Dr Scholls For Her Cozy Cushions

I was a very lucky recipient of the free Rose VoxBox from Influenster (If you would like an invite, message me your email address!). Included in this box was a Lindt Chocolate Truffle, Rimmel London Scandaleyes RetroGram Mascara, Kiss Gradation Nail Art, Dr Scholls for Her Cozy Cushions,  and BelVita Breakfast Biscuits.

 One of my favorite products in this box are the Dr Scholls Cozy Cushions. I have always liked the Dr Scholls brand, they make comfortable, quality insoles, plus they often have coupons. Currently there is a $2 off For Her insoles, as well as other offers.

As I have knee and joint problems, comfortable shoes are a must for me. They need to have some form of cushioning and support. These insoles offer just that and then some. An amazing soft fleece, think Ugg lining, will keep your feet warm and dry (very relevant considering this cold snap attacking the nation today!) According to the Influenster website, these insoles are designed to insulate your foot from the weather, absorb sweat, and provide support.

To get the best fit, remove your existing insoles, trace them onto the new ones, and then place the new insoles in your shoes. I did this and got an absolutely perfect fit! If your insoles are not removable, start by trimming to one size bigger than your shoe size and check the fit.

I placed my Cozy Cushions in my Bearpaw Meadow Boots (which are my all time favorite boots!) as the original insoles are worn out from a couple years of wear! Best. Decision. Ever. My already comfy boots just got better! The new Cosy Cushions are warm, comfy, and supportive. I was able to go for one of my mini marathon shopping trips which usually leave my feet sore regardless of what shoes I wear, with no pain! I want a pair of these insoles in all of my shoes for the winter!

Overall, these are the most comfortable insoles I have ever owned. I would definitely recommend them to anyone wanting to make their boots (or shoes) more comfortable this winter! You will not regret it!  

My latest addiction...

So, as I made a temporary return to school buses, I was introduced to the concept of the Rainbow Loom. At first it was like, that is silly. I'm all set. Then I was in Michaels and they had them in stock, so I figured, what the heck. I could do something cool with this. Then I was hooked.


I started simple. I made a couple bracelets. I used YouTube tutorials to inspire me, then I chose my own colors. I love that I can take what is considered to be a "children's" craft and make it more mature by choosing my color combinations. I like making the bracelets to represent something. The pink/white one was for October Breast Cancer Awareness, the yellow, black, orange, and red one is School Bus. I made an orange, black, purple, and green one for Halloween. I also made them just to have pretty colors together or to match an outfit.


Of course then there was the fun of organizing the bands and looms (yes, plural, I ended up with a second one). So I grabbed a under-used adjustable container and filled it up. As many of the bands came in multi-color packs, it was very helpful to separate them out.

Fall Leaves

 After making a few, I thought, huh, maybe I could sell some; I'll jump on that trend/fad bandwagon. So I finally opened up my Etsy store (Hobo Cat Creations) before I even was ready to list my intended products (a line of quality cat toys, more to come in a future post). Now, on to the promotion and getting my Etsy store name out there! You can find HoboCat Creations on Facebook and on Twitter, please like and follow!! I will post coupon codes!

Glow Keychain

I currently have the school bus bracelet, fall leaves bracelet, and a  custom glow in the dark keychain (you pick the other color). They are running $4. If you are local, you can pick them up, or they can be shipped. Check out my Etsy store for more information if you are interested!

If you have any ideas as to a color combo or design you would like to see, leave a comment!