Ulta Drugstore Haul

My name is Nellie and I'm kind of a shopaholic.

There, I admitted it. They say the first step of recovery is acceptance. Well, I've accepted that I love to shop. Now what?

Now, I think I'll show you some of my recent purchases. I went to the mall the other day and couldn't help but stop at Ulta. I kind of have a weakness for beauty products - hair products, makeup, skin products, doesn't matter - and while I was browsing the shelves I came across a few things that caught my eye. So I bought them, gave 'em try, and decided to type up a little review.

I've heard a lot good things about the Not Your Mother's brand and I wanted to see it was true so I picked up their Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray (that's a mouthful) and their Knotty to Nice Conditioner Detangler spray. And I must say, both products lived up to their names. The texturizing spray gave my hair a decent amount of texture without weighing it down and it smelled really good. As for the detangler spray - I think I'm in love with this product. My hair gets tangled easy and it become near impossible to brush it, but with a few spritz of this stuff my brush slides through my tresses effortlessly. And the best part is it works with wet or dry hair!

If you're addicted to beauty Youtubers like me, then you've probably heard of Nic and Sam Chapman. For those of you that don't know them here's the 411 - they're both makeup artists and sisters, and they're the creators of Real Techniques makeup brushes. I picked up their Expert Face Brush and I can honestly say it was the best purchase I made. Its soft bristles apply your foundation/BB-CC cream beautifully and it glides over the skin nicely - so nicely that it kind of made me feel like I was giving myself a face massage (no joke!). As for the EcoTools Concealer brush on the right, it was equally awesome. It blended my concealer easily and has super soft bristles. Its handle is made of bamboo which makes it comfortable to grip. Plus, it's eco-friendly so that makes it even more amazing.

Here's the link to Nic & Sam's Youtube channel. If you haven't already check 'em out: https://www.youtube.com/user/pixiwoo 

I actually heard about this next product from blogger/Youtuber named Tanya Burr (she's awesome, btw) and she praised this mascara so highly that I had to try it out. As we all know Maybelline is the drugstore king of mascaras, but sometime their products can be a little hit and miss (i.e., their Great Lash Mascara) but this one - the Maybelline The Falsies Big Eyes was right on the mark. It's double-sided and comes with two wands - one for your upper lashes and one for your lower ones, which I thought was pretty cool. And it doesn't flake or clump. I normally apply it in the morning and it holds up my lashes all day. All in all, a good (and inexpensive) buy.

We all want clear skin, right? But 9 times out 10 the products we use don't do what they promise. Clean & Clear's Advantage Acne Spot Treatment gel isn't one of those products. It works on small blemishes if you smear it on them as soon as they pop up. And while it does tingle a little, it's not painful, just uncomfortable. Honestly, I'm kind of on the fence about it.

As for my last purchase it was a Bed Head Round Brush and I can honestly say it's a decent brush. I use it when I blow dry my hair and I like how it  seems to get the strands dryer. . . and that's basically all I have to say about that.

So what are your favorite drugstore products?

My 7 Top Christmas Movies

Everyone has their favorite Christmas movie. You know the one. The one movie they play every Christmas so it gives you a good dose of the Christmas spirit. Literally, watching it puts you into a better mood.

Well, when I was a kid I'd watch all of those old Rankin Bass clay animation films, like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman, and learn all the songs. Even now I know most of the words to "We're a couple of misfits, not a couple of nitwits." But over the years there were certain Christmas films that stood out to me, certain ones that made me smile, made me cry, and even made me laugh out loud.

Here's my list of my top 7 Christmas movies.  

1. ABC Family's Three Days

Three Days is a sweet ABC Family Original Movie about a man who has to learn how to appreciate everything he has in 3 days. In the beginning of the movie he puts his career first and neglects his wonderful wife, played by Kristen Davis. But when his wife gets hit by a car and dies he realizes that he should've done things differently. So, with the help of an angel, he goes back in time 3 days before the accident and spends as much time as he can with his wife. Ultimately, he saves her life by pushing her out of the way of the car the second time around and dying in her place. That part was really sad, but with the angel's help the man comes back to life and they live happily ever after. Christmas Miracle, check. Lesson learned, check.

2. Miracle on 34th Street

  While I love both versions of Miracle on 34th Street, my absolute favorite is the 1994 one with little Mara Wilson. She was so cute and cynical at the same time and when she says she doesn't believe in Santa you believe her. The movie basically tries to prove (in a court of law) that a department Santa is the real Santa Claus. And I must say the lawyers in both films were so convincing they almost had me believing again. It's the perfect movie to get you in the Christmas mood and I'd recommend both versions.

3. The Holiday

As far as Christmas films go this one doesn't actually focus on the holidays (despite the name) but it's still one of my all time favorite movies to watch at Christmas time because it's so funny, romantic, and relatable. It's about two women - Cameron Diaz & Kate Winslet - who live in completely different parts of the world - Cameron lives in sunny LA while Kate lives in snowy Surrey, England - and are having pretty crappy Christmases. Cameron caught her boyfriend cheating on her and Kate's in love with a total jerk who just uses her. In order to get away from their problems they switch houses for the holiday and have the adventures of a lifetime. Jack Black and Jude Law also star in this, but the leading ladies steal the show. 



4. How The Grinch Stole Christmas

   How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a Christmas staple around my house - both the live action one and the cartoon - mainly because it always reminded me of my grandma. We all know someone who isn't particularly fond of the holidays. You know the kind. Christmas songs get on their nerves, the thought of putting up lights annoys them, and they say things like "Humbug!" and mean it. Well, my grandma wasn't as bad as all that but she usually didn't get into the Christmas spirit until around December 23rd.

Anyway, as most of us know How the Grinch Stole Christmas is about the Grinch (duh) who hates Christmas and the Whos of Whoville, who love Christmas. The Whos sing, decorate, give gifts, and spread the Christmas cheer, which only sickens the Grinch. So, fed up with all the celebrating, the Grinch decides to dress up as Santa Claus, break into the houses of Whoville, and steal all their Christmas stuff. But in the end he actually helps them teach him a valuable lesson: Christmas spirit doesn't come from the store, it comes from your heart. The cartoon is adorable and Jim Carrey is hilarious in the live action film.

5. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

 Ok, so the first time I saw this movie I thought to myself, "How did they come up with an accurate representation of my family? I mean, did they plant cameras around our house?" Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating a little. My family isn't as bad as the Griswolds, but some scenes in this film seemed too familiar for comfort. It's the hilarious story of the Griswolds and their extended family who comes to stay for the holidays. Pretty much everything that could go wrong does and the shenanigans Chevy Chase gets into will have you rolling on the floor in laughter. So, if you're looking for a funny Christmas film this would be my pick.

6. A Royal Christmas

The last movie on my list is actually one that came out this year. It's a Hallmark Channel Original Movie and I fell in love with it the moment I read the name. I mean, hello! It has Christmas and royalty. Can't go wrong with that, right? So, I watched it and completely enjoyed it. It's about a girl who meets a guy and falls in love. End of the story, right? Wrong. The guy turns out to be a prince and he brings the girl to his country to meet his mother, the queen. Turns out the queen can't stand the girl because she doesn't think she's good enough for the prince so she does everything in her power to break the two up. It's kind of a cliché movie and you can tell how it's gonna end a few minutes in but still it's worth the watch.

7. The Santa Claus

This was probably one of the first Christmas movies I ever watched as a child and it still holds a special place in my heart even now. It's the story of a single dad named Scott Calvin (played by Tim Allen) who accidentally becomes Santa Clause when the real Santa falls off his roof and dies. Scott and his son hijack Santa's sleigh, deliver the rest of Santa's presents around the world, and go to the North Pole where they find out everything about Santa is real - the flying reindeer, the elves, the whole 9 yards. It's cute and really funny and a Christmas classic for me. So if you haven't already, check it out.



So those were my 7 favorite Christmas movies. Now it's your turn. What's your favorite Christmas movie?

Let's Talk About Santa Claus

When I was a kid I was absolutely petrified of Santa Claus and I know what you're probably thinking - how could you possibly be afraid of one of the most beloved and recognizable characters in the world?

The answer is simple.
Two words: stranger danger.

Mom and Dad warned me (as all parents warn their children) to never trust strangers. They said I should never to go with anyone I didn't know and that I should certainly never accept candy from them. And these rules I understood, but I could never comprehend why on December 25th all these rules flew out the window.

Suddenly, I was expected not only to love a total stranger but to welcome him into my home with open arms because he was giving me gifts.

I remember being a five year old and thinking, "Are they crazy?"

I mean think about it. He's sees you when you're sleeping. He knows when you're awake. That's just a little bit creepy. Sounded like a stalker to me.

So for me Santa Claus was a stranger. I thought to myself so what if he's recognizable by millions of people around the world. Charlie Sheen is recognizable and I definitely wouldn't allow him in my house. You can probably guess that I wasn't one of those children who happily took pictures with Santa at the mall. Nope, I was one of the kids who screamed and kicked and tried to bite Santa. You know the ones having a tantrum and embarrassing their parents. Yep, that was me.

And while my fear of Santa was irrational the most silliest part was I still wanted him to bring me presents - just come to front door first.

Movie Review: Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 1

I knew Jennifer Lawrence was an awesome actor but in Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 1, she's downright extraordinary. If you can guess from the title of this post I went to see the latest Hunger Games movie this weekend and let me tell you it was amazing.

It had everything - explosions, political maneuvers, and a smidge of romance (but not enough to get mushy). I loved it and I can't wait to see Part 2 even though I already know what's going to happen. If you've read the books you know that the story is told from Katniss' point of view. Well, one of the best things about the movie is that you get to see some things that occurred behind the scenes - like the District 13 rescue mission and Plutarch's prep talk with Effie.

The screenwriter did a good job of condensing the book while still staying true to the story. They hit the high points and even added small details like Katniss fidgeting with Peeta's pearl and when she realizes President Snow is just toying with her while she's playing with Buttercup, Prim's cat.

And while the script was good the sets were even better. As soon as District 13's underground quarters came on the screen my first thought was "It's even better than I imagined." Actually, that thought kept popping up in my mind for the rest of the movie. I don't know what it is about the theater, but it just makes everything bigger and better. It completely takes you away and let's you escape for a few hours.

The acting was believable, the storyline never lagged or got boring, and the action was packed. I wouldn't go as far to say it was the best Hunger Games movie ever, but it fits nicely into the saga. I almost cried when Katniss went back to District 12 and saw how destroyed her home was and then again when Peeta and Katniss were finally reunited - all I can say on that is Poor Peeta. Poor Katniss. Poor Gale. Poor everyone. But all in all, I thought they ended Part 1 in a good place. Part 2 should pick up nicely from there (and if you read the book you have a pretty good idea where I'm talking about).

So, on a scale of 1 to 10 - 1 being horrible and 10 being AMAZING - I'd give Mockingjay Part 1 a 10.

Reuniting with Family & Turning 24!

This past week was kind of crazy. I had Thanksgiving on Thursday, a family reunion on Saturday, and my 24th birthday today, on Sunday. So I've been on a roll since Wednesday but I think I'm finally slowing down. Now that the roller coaster of life has slowed down I can finally take a minute to look back at the good memories I made this weekend . . . starting with the family reunion.

 My family is really, really big and loud and loving and amazing - and that's just my mom's side. My grandma, Nellie (whom I'm named after), came from a family of nine. She had six sisters and two brothers. Actually, she had a twin sister named Aunt Nell. And out of all of these siblings they had a lot of children and grandchildren and great grandchildren and so on. Out of all of the siblings only two are still living and we thought it would be a great way to honor them by having our first family reunion.

 

Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins came from near and far and we really enjoyed ourselves catching up and remembering old times. 

 

Me & some of my cousins

Then today I spent the day celebrating my 24th birthday with even more family. We shopped and ate out and enjoyed ourselves. I'm so thankful God blessed me to see another year and I can't wait to see what He has in store for me.

Whoo-hoo! I'm 24! See any wrinkles yet?

As I said a little earlier we went to eat out, but what I didn't mention was that we were the only ones in the restaurant. You see, since today is Sunday, the restaurant we went to usually closed at 2, but since it was my birthday they stayed open late and let us have our own private little birthday lunch. Pretty awesome, huh? Well, I thought so. 

Anyway, they all sang "Happy Birthday" to me and our waiter even brought out a cute, little ice cream sundae. So I closed my eyes, made a wish, and blew out the candle. All in all my birthday was great and now it's time to start December. So peace out, November, you were good to me. :)



Oh and to make things even better Google wished me a "Happy Birthday" and I can honestly say I've never had a search engine do that before.
 

Cute & Delicious

Thanks, Google

Here's a pic of my birthday outfit and try to ignore my "I mean business"/hands-on-my-hips/channeling my inner super hero pose. 

Wanna try the look? Top to bottom: Graphic Tee - Maurice's; Black skirt - Old Navy; Red Cutout tights - Walmart; Boots- Shoe Department.

Peace & Love,

Nellie