My 5 Favorite Ellie Goulding Songs

Hello everyone and welcome to today's post. It's been a while since I wrote a post on music so for today I wanted to share with you all my top 5 Ellie Goulding songs. Before we get started can I just say that I think Ellie Goulding is one of the most talented singers in the music business. I mean, seriously, the notes she can hit is unbelievable. Plus her songs won't only make you dance, they'll make you think. I'm definitely a fan of hers and if you're reading this post I'm assuming you are too. She's got the kind of voice I could listen to all day.

So . . . grab a comfy seat, a cup of your favorite drink, and let's jump into Ellie's music >>>>

5. How Long Will I Love You - Halcyon Days

This will be the slowest song on the list but don't let that put you off. This song is beautiful, genuine, and heart-touching. Yes, it's your quintessential love song but who doesn't love them? When I heard this song for the first time all I could think was I wish I'd heard it before I gotten married because Denis and I would have definitely danced to it. Yeah, it's that kind of song - the kind that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

There's a vulnerability to Goulding's voice that I really like in this song and it's such a simple melody that you can't help but remember it.

Favorite Lyrics: "How long will I love you
As long as stars are above you
And longer if I may"

4. Burn - Halcyon Days

If you need a song to work out to this is definitely the song for you. For me, this song is my go-to when I need some motivation. The beat is fast-paced and the lyrics are so catchy I find myself singing them in my car. And yes, other drivers do look at me like I've lost my mind. But I just wave and keep on singing because this song is that good.

If you don't get pumped while listening to this song then you need to call it a day.

Favorite Lyrics: "Light it up, like we're the stars of the human race, human race"

3. We Can't Move to This - Delirium

To be honest, I'm not much of a dancer - meaning I'm not good at it. But even me, with my stiff moves and lack of rhythm can't help but get up and move when this song comes on. This song has such an awesome beat (especially the chorus) that you have to get up when you hear it. The first time I heard I pictured a party on the beach. This song would be perfect for something like that. Plus, it's got this independent woman message that a girl just can't deny.

Favorite Lyric:s "We can't move to this
We can't even talk, boy
We don't even kiss
You're not in love"

2. Army - Delirium

I read online that Ellie wrote this song for her best friend, Hannah, and her fans and I think it's a beautiful testament of their friendship. I like the simplicity of the song in the beginning and how it builds as the song continues. Ellie's vocal power shines through as the song progresses and by the end of it you feel like you can grab your best friend's hand and go take on the world.


Favorite Lyrics: "And yet you understand
Yeah like no one can
We both know what they say about us
But they don't stand a chance because"

1. On My Mind - Delirium

Where do I begin with this song? This is by far my favorite Ellie Goulding song so far and honestly, it's one of my favorite songs in general. I find everything about this song to be perfect - from the lyrics to the beat to the production of the song. It was produced by pop music geniuses, Max Martin and Ilya, and I that's one of the reason it's so catchy.

I love how Ellie repeats the lyrics over and over again and how certain phrases layer over the other ones. And while I know this song is about a one night stand that really messes with your head I can't help but sing along to it when I hear it. You can bet your last dollar that this song is on repeat on my phone.  

Favorite Lyrics: "Why I got you on my mind (you think you know somebody)"

So now that you know my favorite Ellie Goulding songs what's yours? Let me know in the comments and thanks for reading.

Until next time . . .

XOXO,

Nellie

A Night of Neutrals

Hello everyone and welcome to today's post. The other night I had to get ready in a hurry (as usual). So of course I went to my closet and threw an outfit together as fast as I could and hit the door. It wasn't until later that I realized I'd grabbed a bunch of clothes in neutral colors. And that's when I was inspired to write this post.

If you're like me then you might find that the dominate color range in your closet is black or dark blue. Honestly, I was beginning to wear so much black that I was depressing myself. So the fact that I managed to find this outfit amazed me.





Even though spring is right around the corner in Louisiana the weather can be unpredictable. For example, yesterday it was raining cats and dogs and by lunch time the sun was shining. Talk about nuts. But anyway, when you live in an unpredictable weather climate like I do you have to wear layers. Which is why I paired a cardigan and some beigh booties with this look.

*Any link below that's marked with a "*" is an affiliate link. This means that I receive a percentrage of the revenue made from any products purchased through the link. 

WANNA SHOP THE LOOK?

// Cardigan - JC Penney (similar) // Ivory Blouse - Cato's (discontinued) *Similar // Beige Booties - Payless (Similar) //

Until next time . . .

XOXO,

Nellie

More Pigments, Please: Makeup Geek Pigment Review

Hello everybody and welcome to today's post. If you've never heard of a cosmetics brand called Makeup Geek I am more than honored to introduce you to it. This company belongs to the YouTube and makeup guru, Marlena Stell. And in my opinion, it has some of the best products on the market - high end or drugstore. Everything is affordably priced and the brand offers almost everything from eye shadows to brushes to bronzers and blushes. But out of all the amazing products they have my favorite is the pigments.

For years I only used pressed shadows for my eye looks, but my makeup game totally changed the minute I saw the Makeup Geek pigments. Not only are they really pigmented (no pun intended) and well priced at $9.00 to $12.00, but they're super soft, pretty easy to work with, and give you a beautiful wash of color that beats even some of the most expensive eye shadows out there.

  

The pigments come in three different kinds - regular, foiled, and duochrome. If you haven't already guessed my personal favorites are the duochromes. You basically get two shadows in one and who doesn't love that? But before we get into the awesomeness of the pigments let's talk about the packaging for a second.

Let's just take a minute and appreciate the loveliness of the packaging. Each pigment comes in a compact box with a slight holographic shift. As for the pigment itself, each comes in a circular, plastic jar with about 6 grams of product.

 

Now on to swatches>>>>>



I don't think I'll ever understand why I love swatches so much but I do. And trust me, the Makeup Geek duochrome swatches didn't disappoint. Out of the 7 duochrome shadows she offers I have 6 and let me tell you these little babies pack a mean color punch. Her shades range from noticeable colors like Sugar Rush and Kaleidoscope to the more wearable like Prism and Mood Ring.

When it comes to the duochromes my holy grails are Sugar Rush and Kaleidoscope.

As for the regular and foiled pigments I only own two of each. To be honest the foiled pigments have some colors that are a little out of my comfort zone but the regular pigments are perfect if you want to add a little extra shine to your eye look. The two colors I have are probably some of the most wearable colors you'll find in the pigment range: Gargoyle and Afterglow.

Let's start with Gargoyle. If you're into cool tones than this is the pigment for you. It's a gray/taupe-y color that compliments all eye colors. Also, it works beautifully with the neutral colors of the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette. 

As for Afterglow - oh my gosh, let's take a minute for it, shall we - this stuff is my favorite of all the pigments because it looks ah-mazing on every eye color. It's the most beautiful, soft, and shimmery champagne with just the tiniest hint of gold. Plus, it's super versatile. You can wear it alone or layer on top of another eye shadow and take your look to the next level.  It's perfect for wedding makeup because you can either sweep a little bit on the lids for a natural glow or really pack it on for a stand out look. There's no wrong way to wear it.

So now that you know my favorite Makeup Geek pigments it's time to tell me yours. Let me know in the comments which MUG pigment catches your eye (no pun intended).

Until next time . . .

XOXO,

Nellie

My Go-To Weekend Look

Hello everyone and welcome to today's post. For me the weekend is my time to run some errands I didn't get to in the week. It's also a time for me to catch my breath from the week and relax some. I tend to lean for a more casual outfit - jeans, t-shirt, and sneakers - and slow down my normally hectic pace.

And when it comes to my makeup I stick to the basics - foundation, concealer, powder, etc. But when it comes to my eye look I've found myself reaching for my *Too Faced Sweet Peach Palette and doing one of the easiest eye shadow looks I've ever done. Honestly, I only use 5 shadows, some gel liner, a little mascara and I'm out the door.

So if you're interested in seeing My Go-To Weekend Look just keep on reading >>>>

All links in the post that are marked with a "*" are affiliate links, which mean I get a percentage of the revenue made from any products that are purchased through this link
 

On the weekend I'm all about products that will control shine and give me a matte finish that lasts all day. Which is why after I've cleansed and moisturized my face I prime my face with the *L'Oreal Matte Lock Primer. Then I blend the *L'Oreal Pro Matte Foundation all over my face with my *Sigma F80 brush. I love using this brush for my foundation because it has a flat top with dense, soft fibers that makes even the thickest foundation blend like a dream. And who doesn't want that?

For concealer I use my trusty *Maybelline Fit Me Concealer and I put in the usual places - under my eyes, down the bridge of my nose, on my chin and forehead. Then I set everything with my *Maybelline Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder. I have been loving this powder recently because it has a nice finish and it holds up through the day really well. 

Then it's time for one of my favorite combos - bronzer and blush. For bronzer and blush I'm still sticking with my current favorites, the Benefit Hoola Bronzer and the Doll 10 Hydragel Cream Blush. I swear by these two products because both the Hoola Bronzer and the Doll 10 Cream Blush give a natural, long-wearing look to the face. While I do apply the bronzer with a brush, I stick to what God gave me and use my finger tips to blend the blush into the apples of my cheeks.

Once all of this has been laid down then the face is done and it's time for the eyes.  

As I said earlier this is the one of the easiest eye looks I've ever done and I love doing it when I'm in a hurry because it takes about 5 minutes to do. If you're interested in recreating my Weekend Makeup Look just keep reading >>>>

These are the products I used:  

*Too Faced Sweet Peach Palette,  

*NYX HD Finishing Powder 

*NYX Eyeshadow Base,

*Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz  

*Maybelline Precise Brow Mascara

*L'Oreal Lash Paradise Mascara

*L'Oreal Infallible Gel Liner 

Step 1 - After you've primed your lid with your favorite primer take a flat, stiff brush (like the *Mac 239) and sweep Caramelized all over your lid.

Step 2 - Then with a blending brush (such as the *Sigma E25) lightly blend a mix of Puree and Summer Yum into the crease and outer V of the eye. These two colors are perfect to use for transition shades as well as blending out any harsh lines. Because, girl, the last thing you need is harsh lines.

Step 3 - Finally, with a domed-shaped brush (like the *Makeup Geek Outer V brush) apply White Peach above the crease under the brow bone. Doing this will instantly highlight your brow and help to soften your transition shades even more. Basically, you're applying the colors from darkest to lightest. For the last shadow, use your ring finger and lightly pat Luscious over the lid. This gives the lid a little bit of shine. Then add your favorite gel liner, some mascara, and you're good to go.

HERE'S THE FINISHED LOOK >>>>>

And that's all for now, my lovelies. Until next time . . .

XOXO,

Nellie

Livin' in up in Las Vegas

Hello, everybody! I felt like it was time share another little piece of the road trip Denis and I took a while back. I came across these pictures and thought you would like to see. I hope you're all having a wonderful day and that this post makes it a little brighter. So if you're ready to take a little road trip to Las Vegas just keep reading . . .

I mentioned previously on this blog that last summer Denis, my mom, and I went on a road trip to the Grand Canyon. To see that post just click here.Well, after exploring the Grand Canyon, the Painted Dessert, and getting lost and ending up on an Indian Reservation we headed to our next destination - Las Vegas.

Denis said that since we were so far out west we had to swing by Sin City because it would probably be our only chance to see it. So we left Arizona and headed north to Nevada. While we were there we stayed at the MGM Grand Hotel and boy, was it nice. The hotel had just gotten brand new mattresses in every room so we slept great that night.

Our comfortable beds at the MGM Grand. They were so comfortable I had to take a picture of them.

This was a picture of the phone in Denis' bathroom. He was amazed.

After being amazed at our rooms we hit the streets to do a little sightseeing. And let's just say we saw more than we bargained for at some intersections. Here's a few pictures of my favorite sights >>>>

 

We walked 5 miles from the MGM Grand to the Paris Hotel and Casino. I had to see it up close and it was just as beautiful as it is on TV. All in all it was a great 2 days in Vegas and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Until next time . . .

XOXO,

Nellie