Irish Cream Frappe

Even though we're all (me most of all!) geared towards Fall right now the truth is we still have a few warm days ahead of us. Before it got too cold I thought I'd share my recipe for our Irish Cream Frappe. You can also make this hot by omitting the ice and adding more coffee! Just a note, this is full fat so you've been fairly warned!

You'll need:

1 oz of Irish Cream syrup (If you want to make this an adult beverage substitute Irish Cream liquor instead!)
2 oz white chocolate or white frappe powder
1 oz sugar
1 oz half and half
2 oz espresso or strong coffee
1 cup of ice
As much whip cream and white chocolate syrup as you want for garnish.

Making it is simple, throw all the ingredients into a blender and blend away! I use 1 cup of ice and the coffee is hot when I blend, which to me makes the best frappe consistency. If you want it smoother or thicker adjust ice as needed. To garnish, top with whip cream and line cup with white chocolate syrup (this is optional but adds a nice touch!) Keep in mind, this can always be adjusted to your own taste, which I definitely suggest! Use skim milk or Splenda to cut calories if that's your thing, or go the full fat way (like I prefer!) by following the recipe above. Enjoy!!!

Small Drugstore Haul

 I can't be the only person who goes into Walgreen's for one (non-beauty) thing and comes out with this, can I? Since Walgreen normally do beauty sales I had to pop over and see what was on sale and this is what I came away with.

All the Maybelline products were buy one get one half off so I decided to repurchase one of the Fit me! powders since mine is running low. I use this powder daily and love it so it was kind of a necessary purchase, at least that's what I'm telling myself. I also bought the Fit me! shine free foundation in Coconut. I've been loving using cream contours and this works amazingly since it blends out so nicely.

I also picked up Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind Concealer + Treatment in the shade Fair. I need a new concealer as mine is almost gone and thought I'd give this one a go. I also picked up the Lash Sensational waterproof mascara as I've heard tons of good things about it. I'm going to say very carefully that so far I don't like it. I'm not a big fan of the brush but to be fair I've only used it once so I'll try it a few more times before deciding how I feel.

I also picked up these two Maybelline Color Elixirs. I'm a huge fan of the formula of these and I couldn't pass up the pretty colors (especially as these were on additional clearance because they're "Spring" colors). The shades are (from left) Glowing Garnet and Luminous Lilac.

This last purchase was ridiculous because, quite frankly, I have about 50 lipsticks in this shade, even one from Wet n' Wild that is in similar packaging and nearly the same color. My reasoning is I wear this color virtually every day in the Fall. It's like having 20 plain white tees, you can never have to many and it's a staple right? This is in the color Vintage Vibe.

I hope everyone's week is off to a great start!

September Goals

 Lately I've been really into the whole monthly goals thing because looking at the big picture can be pretty overwhelming. I'd much rather concentrate on 30 days to accomplish a goal then, say, 365 days. And to be quite frank, I've forgotten most of the goals I made back in January anyway. So here are my goals for September.

1. To really crack down on my training for S2S: This one is a given since the race is this month so I really don't have a choice either way. My goal is to ride 3 to 4 times a week, mostly to keep my muscles toned and to get saddle time in, because those seats are NOT comfortable and takes a lot of getting used to.

2. To complete one book this month: I love to read but I feel like over the past few months I've started a book then got extremely busy so by the time I came back to it weeks later I didn't know what was going on so I'd just start on something else. I really want to find the time to sit down and read at least half an hour each day. If I can watch mind-numbing t.v. (not that there is anything wrong with that) I can definitely make time to read a little each day.

3. To spend more quality time with the hubby: Note the use of quality in that sentence. My husband and I have worked together since we've known each other so we were together practically all the time. Now that he's switched careers (Friday was his official last day) we don't have the luxury of eating lunch together or walking over to see each other whenever we want. So I'm planning on any time spent with him as OUR time, meaning no phones, e-mails, or other distractions. Are you reading this hubby, because this applies to you too!

4. To try one new recipe a week: Over the summer we were super busy, it was super hot and being in the kitchen was the last thing on my mind. Truth be told, though, I love to cook and I have a hankering to get back in the kitchen and try some new things! Reading blogs all day will do that to you...

5. Last, finally start that gratitude journal: I recently wrote a post on gratitude and how important I feel it is to do this on the daily. I feel like it shouldn't be something you have to think about, but for most of us it is, and like anything else, until we do it enough it takes a lot of work. Starting a gratitude journal where I note one thing I'm grateful for each day definitely pushes me in the right direction!

Do you guys like to make monthly, yearly, or even weekly goals? What works for you? Let me know in the comments below!

Weekly Roundup : Friday Faves #12

Yay, it's Friday again and I'm so looking forward to this weekend because I definitely need some sleep after this long week! I hope everyone had a great one!

This spray is amazing. Literally, it's life changing. Now I haven't tried too many makeup setting sprays but the ones I have tried don't really work for me, mainly because I am so super duper oily. This one from Makeup Revolution is touted as an oil control fixing spray so I had to try it and I am not disappointed. While I still get a little shiny in my t-zone area it keeps my makeup nicely set and keeps the rest of my face from being one huge oily mess so I am really loving it.

I generally like using powder for my brows but was intrigued by this e.l.f. instant lift brow pencil. Mine is in the shade Natural Brown. I would love to show you a swatch but in travel somehow the packaging got ruined and the pencil will no longer roll up. So definitely not a fan of the packaging but the product itself is so good. It's a cool-toned brown (I add a more golden brown gel on top to warm it up a bit) and it makes doing brows so quick and easy, I will definitely repurchase. The spoolie is also one of my favorite things, it's really stiff which some people might not like, but I love since my brows are a thick mess!

I've also been loving the e.l.f. Essential sunkissed glow bronzer in the shade Sunkissed. I love using this on top of my contour to give my face a warm glow. It's slightly powdery but for $2 you really can't beat how pretty it looks!

This Hard Candy bronzer in the shade Tiki has been my favorite highlight as of late. I've been loving the softer glow for my fave and this blends out so beautifully, you can pile it on or leave it super natural looking.

Lastly, I have been loving sparkling water. Since giving up soda, I do miss having a carbonation kick once in a while and these are perfect for that. The Dasani ones have been my favorite because although they are flavored, they aren't super strong like some of the other brands, plus they are super affordable.

Happy weekend everyone! Let me know what you've been loving this week!

Current Favorite : Makeup Revolution Lipsticks

Yes, clearly I'm on a Makeup Revolution roll right now, but since I placed a big order a few weeks ago, it's only natural I play with all the products. I might as well be a brand ambassador or something right? Maybe not, but their products are seriously such great quality for the price, I can't help but gush over them. Right now I'm currently loving my most recent lipstick purchases from M.R.

This lip lava in the shade Shockwave is my favorite of the bunch. It's a liquid lipstick that's meant to be a dupe for Too Face's melted lipsticks and it is really, really good. It's super pigmented and the color is so fun, I absolutely love it! I want to go back and get all the colors (surprise, surprise!)

The packaging on this next lipstick is so gorgeous, I like it for looks alone! The color is called Totally NOT Boring and it really isn't. Originally I thought It would just be a normal berry toned pink, but it's actually quite deep with undertones of red in it, which makes it very unique.

This lipstick is from their Atomic Shade range and it's in the color Make Me Magnificent. It's a really pretty purple that almost appears light pink with super silvery tones. It's gorgeous and perfect for transitioning into Fall.

I thought this last color in the shade Fusion would be a lot more dark, but it's actually quite sheer. I'm not disappointed however, because I love the touch of red this gives to my lips. It's pretty without being too over the top and perfect for everyday if you don't want to go bold.

As you can see I'm loving all the different lipstick lines Makeup Revolution has to offer! Which one is your favorite?

Weekly Wears : The Darkside

I want to preface this post by saying there is a reason I very rarely do fashion posts on my blog. I'm hardly photogenic, and trying to find the right angles or what my "best" side is, is near impossible. I love fashion as much as the next, but quite frankly these are some of my (personal) least favorite posts only because I don't feel like I'm putting my best content forward. Not because I don't have an amazing photographer (thanks hubby!) or I don't really feel passionate about what I'm writing, but more so because I am just simply an awkward human being, which translates x1000 in these photographs. Let's just say, it's a work in progress. Props to all my beautiful friends who do fashion posts on the daily, you guys are spectacular!

That being said, let's get to it. I'm a person who gravitates towards black. It's true and there's really nothing to be done about it. I try to incorporate color whenever I can muster the strength to think back to basic color theory, but frankly it's much easier and quicker for me to throw black on black. So for warmer weather I love all the dark florals that have come out this year. It's my take on a pop of color.

I tell myself every time not to forget my sunglasses so I'm not glaring in the lens, but I can't get it to stick, so please excuse the scowl! 

The floral on this black blouse is such an unexpected twist and this unique take on the "cold shoulder" fad is one of my favorite details about the top. It shows a little skin without being too in your face.

 These wedges are a summertime staple for me and I got them from Payless (yes, Payless!) for around $15. Since they have the neutral wedge they go with everything and they are super affordable so you can't beat that!

On my lips I added another pop of color - Makeup Revolution's lipstick in the shade Rebel With Cause. It's the prettiest red shade with undertones of purple and I love it for all year round!

Other dark floral favorites at the moment : this ASOS blazer, this gorgeous pencil skirt from shopplasticland.com and these gorgeous heels from Lulus.

Are you loving darker florals? Have you tried the trend?

Makeup Revolution - I Heart Makeup Death By Chocolate Palette

Let's be honest, it was only a matter of time before I purchased this palette. I did a review on the Makeup Revolution Naked Chocolate Palette in a previous post and I loved it so much I thought I'd go for a second one. It's a miracle I haven't purchased all three really, not only because I love Makeup Revolution Palettes so much, but also because I have a thing for sets. That being said, the next one I went for wasn't even the original, it was the Death By Chocolate version, which features a ton of pretty cool toned shadows, perfect for Fall.

I love all the fun names, like Consume Me, One More Bar, Devour Me and  Love You To Death. Seriously love Makeup Revolutions packaging!

There are still quite a few pretty bronze-y warm colors in this palette, much like the Naked Chocolate Palette, but as you'll see from the swatches there are also a variety of pretty cool toned colors as well as some gorgeous mattes.

I love the cool toned grays and silvers in the last row, so perfect for fall. I am also loving the first shade of the middle row as a transition shade. I love that this palette also features a nice black and 2 highlight shades making it super versatile. As always, the palette is highly pigment and the shadows are super soft and blendable. Makeup Revolution seriously kills it at making the best affordable eye shadow palettes on the market!

Let me know if you've tried any of their palettes and if so, what was your favorite?