January Empties!!

Since Janurary is over it's time for #empties!! This month I didn't go through as many things as usual since I went all natural a lot but here are the things I did empty!

 I finished my travel sized Better Than Sex mascara from Too Faced. I bought the travel size because I wasn't sure if I would like it but it is actually MY FAVE! So I will definitely be repurchasing in full size. I hit pan in my FAVORITE Sephora concealer. Seriously guys this concealer is bomb AF! It's full coverage and waterproof, it's perfection and I need a new one ASAP. It isn't cakey or too thick and it looks natural, I'm obviously obsessed. 

I also hit pan in the Ready, Set, Gorgeous setting powder from Covergirl. I loved it but I actually won't be repurchasing because I have two new setting powders to try but I would still recommend it for anyone looking for a good setting powder that doesn't break your bank!

 I used up all of my Urban Decay Eye Potion Primer in the shade original. This was a sample I received with my Naked 2 palette and I definitely will be buying the full size because I have hooded eyes and it's almost impossible to keep eyeshadow from creasing but this stuff did the job and I was beyond impressed! So to all my fellow hooded eye girls out there if you haven't already go pick this primer up! 

I finally finished up my Too Faced Melted lipstick, not that I didn't love it! I loved it so much but it took so long to finish! I will be buying a new one for sure but I will probably change shades just because I'm kind of worn out on this hot pink for now but if you guys are looking for a good hot pink this is definitely a great choice. It stayed on almost all day and was SO smooth and moisturizing! 

I also used up my Maybelliene Cheek/Lip Stick. I will also be repurchasing this Cheek stick especially since summer is coming and it went so well with my tinted moisturizer. It blends really nice and I love that I can use it on my lips as well. 

Lastly I finished my Aveeno Healthy Naturals Moisturizer. This is my favorite, go to moisturizer and I pretty much empty is every month because I use it everyday! I especially used it a lot this winter because it keeps me so moisturized and I sometimes apply it twice a day. I recommend this moisturizer  to pretty much everyone I know because it's just SO great! So obviously I will be repurchasing this for sure ;)

I hope you guys enjoyed this edition of my Empties, let me know below or on my Instagram( @sweetserendipity96) what you guys emptied out this month and if you would repurchase. 

Xoxo, Alex! 

TAYLOR FREAKING SWIFT!!

I have been wanting to share pictures from when I saw Taylor Swift on her 1989 tour last year for so long with you guys! Today since I finally had a free moment to get the pictures together I will be sharing my 1989 World Tour Experience and pictures!

First off I saw Taylor when she came to Arlington, Texas last year in October. The story of how I got tickets is literally insane. So at first my parents didn't think we could afford tickets unless I could get them pretty cheap. I went on Craigslist looking for deals, which were impossible to find btw because there were SO many scams. The Dallas news stations were actually putting out warnings telling people not to buy tickets for Taylor on Craigslist because so many people were being scammed. I was so close to giving up when I got an email from a lady who said her daughters two friends couldn't make it and she would be happy to give me the (hard copy) tickets at my price. I was BEYOND ecstatic and made a time to meet her. We were supposed to meet at 3:30 the day of the concert(concert started at 7) at a mall not far from us. So my mom and I went to the mall and waited for about an hour and then texted her and asked where she was and she said she was almost there but was stuck in traffic. So we kept waiting and waiting until it was 5:30! We texted her and called but she wouldn't answer so basically I was out of luck. I was literally dying inside but I didn't want to say anything because the whole thing was my idea! My mom felt so bad so we ran home and bought two tickets off Stub Hub which happened to be not too far off our budget! We were running out of time though so we were rushing around like crazy getting dressed and driving there. We finally made it just in time to grab our seats and a snack before the opening acts went on, they were Shawn Mendes and Vance Joy.  Taylor was absolutely fantastic, this was my second time seeing her and she never disappoints. I am such a mega Swiftie <3 I'll put the pics from the show down below! I hope you guys enjoy!

 Xoxo, Alex~

My Top 5 Travel Essentials

Hey there guys! Today I thought I would share my Top Ten Travel Essentials with you guys seeing as I am a VERY frequent traveler myself! These are just some of the things I have learned I literally can’t live without on flights, road trips, etc! So let’s get into it.

1. My first essential on ANY trip has definitely got to be my Ipod/Iphone because music is literally my life on trips. You will never see me without my earphones and Iphone! Music is such a great way to pass the time. Some of my favorite albums right now for trips are 5 Seconds of Summer’s Sounds Good Feels Good Album(and any of their other songs *wink*) and Taylor Swifts 1989( Swiftieforever!).

           

2. Moisturizer is actually one of the most important things for me when I am traveling because it dries out my skin SO bad; flying does it worse than driving. Either way I recommend taking moisturizer with you to keep your face soft and flake free. My go to is the Aveeno Naturals because it has SPF plus Vitamin A, C, and E!

3. BOOKS! I am probably the biggest bookwork you will ever meet in your entire life! Nothing passes the time on a flight or in the car like a great book. One time I actually brought four different books with me on a trip just because! Here are two of my favourites that I HIGHLY suggest you guys pick up(my list would go on forever honestly so I stopped at two!) Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, This book is so amazing. I cannot say enough great things about it, plus the second installment is coming out next month! My second favorite is Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen, this trilogy is beyond captivating! It has everything, Romance, suspense, action. It will have you hooked from start until end!

 

4. I always bring a journal with me when I am traveling because I love to write down accounts of my days or little tid bits of something I did just so I will have those memories to look at later. When I went to Europe for 3 months I was so busy I just knew I would forget things about the trip, so I started jotting down things I did, saw, ate and then when I came home and read through them all andit was like reliving my trip all over again. I even glued postcards and tickets to museums inside to go along with the stories.

 

5. My last essential that I have to bring on every trip with me is Dry Shampoo! I can’t tell you guys how many times this stuff has come in handy during trips. It saved me so many times in Europe when I didn’t have enough time to wash my hair but also didn’t want to look gross in picture or public! Batiste is one of my ALL time favorite brands and I definitely recommend them!

 

 

I hope this helps out any of my fellow travelers out there! Let me know what some of your traveling essentials are in the comments and follow my Instagram account, @sweetserendipity96!

 Kisses, Alex!

Top 10 Girly Must Have's

So today I have a super awesome guest writer for you guys, my good friend Kate who runs the blog Kate's Balancing Act. When she said she wanted to collaborate with me I was like "Heck Yes!" I hope you guys love her post as much as I do! 

Xoxo Alex~

Top 10 Girly Must Have’s

Hey guys! I’m Kate, and I blog over at Kate’s Balancing Act. I have a wide range of things I like to write about, anything from marriage to DIY’s. I’m married to my one true love and we spend majority of our free time hunting together! I’m a full time mechanical engineer and love to volunteer my time for special causes, especially anything breast cancer related. I’d say I am pretty well balanced between being a girly-girl and a tomboy!

So when Alex asked me come say hello, I knew immediately what I wanted to write about. Without any ado, I present to youten must haves for that girly-girl side of you! 

1. Dry Shampoo – So I’m sure you’ve heard by now that washing your hair every day is just simply not good for your hair. However, some people hate the greasy-ness between washes. And this is where this bad boy comes in! I’ve tried several different kinds but I swear by this stuff…it lasts all day, doesn’t leave any residue on your hair, absorbs the oil and doesn’t make it look dusty! Win-win in my book.

2. Chapstick – I’ve been using this smooth goodness for YEARS. My lips seem to always be chapped – no matter what time of the year it is. But if I use this consistently it seems to make all that dryness go away and it is seriously SO silky smooth! Definitely my go-to chapstick.

3. A good moisturizer – this is another product I’ve been using for YEARS. Just like my lips, the rest of my skin is usually pretty dry – ESPECIALLY in the winter. But I have such sensitive skin, it’s hard to find something that doesn’t make the dryness worse or make me break out. This stuff works wonders and I’d recommend it to anyone.

4. A fitted blazer – Giiiiirl if you don’t have one by now, you must go out and get one now! The one I linked is from H&M however I got mine from TJ Maxx for a steal! This is that perfect staple piece for your closet as you can dress it up or down in so many ways! 

5. A favorite candle (or a knock off) – Okay so I am IN LOVE with the volcano candle. You can purchase it from places like Anthropologie or Francesca’s. However, I’m gonna be honest with you…it is prettyyyy pricey. And for a girl who likes to bargain shop, I’ve only treated myself to this candle a handful of times. AND THEN! I came across the Bali Sunrise candle from the beloved Target. Holy smokes, does it smell similar to volcano & only $10 for the large one and $5 for the smaller one. HOLLA!

6. A good makeup remover – I’ve tried a few different ones from the brand “Yes to Carrots.” Most recently I tried this coconut one and man does it smell great! Reminds me of sweet summertime and removes all my makeup without drying out my face.

7. Nice travel totes/luggage – If you suffer from a severe case of wanderlust like me, this is a must. You can’t be travelin’ the world with crappy luggage. It’s just not right. So I liked the super adorable 3 piece set from Victoria’s Secret. I only have the big one and in a different print but it is PERFECT! I also attached an image of my most favorite tote on the planet…this GORGEOUS cork tote from Thirty-One. Unfortunately it isn’t available anymore (except maybe eBay if you’re lucky!) but I highly suggest hitting up your local Thirty-One consultant and checking out their gorgeous bags!

8. Planner – every woman needs a planner. I used to be so guilty of getting one but never following through with using it and looking back now, I’m like what the heck was I thinking?? I used to keep everything in my calendar on my phone, which sure, was super convenient but what the heck happens if your phone breaks and you lose it all? I know there is NOO way I’d remember everything. So having a hard copy is a perfect way for me to stay organized. This year I got a super cute one from Target that is part of the Sugar Paper LA line! So stinkin’ cute!

9. Nice Leggings - So if I could, I’d live in leggings all.the.time. Which I still usually do when I’m not at work. But ladies, PLEASE invest in some nice leggings that aren’t see through – especially if you’re going to wear them as pants. There is nothing worse than being able to see everything going on under those comfy leggings. I’ve linked some fleece lined ones by Steve Madden that I have multiple pairs of. Also – they’re on clearance for $4 at TJ Maxx right now! Can I get an amen?!

10. Fuzzy socks – so coming from the girl who HATES socks this may seem kind of funny. But if I’m leaving the house during the winter you can bet that 90% of the time my feet are wrapped up in some cozy fuzzy socks. There is just something about them that is so comforting. And you can get them just about anywhere for a good price!

 I hope you enjoyed reading about my 10 girly must haves and a HUGE thank you to Alex for allowing me to be a guest on her awesome blog! Be sure to check my blog out at www.k8sbalancingact.wordpress.com and my IG handle is @kate_paszkiewicz! :) 

 

~BEAUTY/MAKEUP HAUL~

Hey Guys! 

So as you all know I am literally a makeup junkie! The obsession is so real, I really probably need help but anyway I went to Target a few days ago and of course no one leaves Target empty handed. I mean how can you it's Target!? So here are the products I picked up, oh and  most were on sale so that justifies it right?

I picked up this Maybelliene compact thingy because it was only $7 and it looked amazing! The highlighter and eyeshadow were basically calling to me.

Then as I ventured deeper into the makeup aisles I saw this Pacifica Foundation CC cream which was regularly $15 and was on sale for $12, yeah I know not a steal but Pacifica is paraben free and mostly natural so I was just like "why not?" 

After that find I went to get what I actually came for my Pixie H2o Tinted Moisturizer($25, I believe). If you follow my Instagram you know that I CANNOT stop raving about this stuff! It's basically my holy grail base because it's just SO amazing and hydrating. The coverage is actually really good for a tinted moisturizer as well. 

And of course being me got distracted looking at all of Pixies products and decided to pick up their Glow Tonic. I've heard amazing things about this toner, it's supposed to help with pores, give your skin an amazing glow, help with acne, and some people even said it helped with fine lines and wrinkles. So I picked it up for me and my mom to try out. It cost me $15 but I've wanted to try it forever so I didn't mind. 

Thankfully I got out of there before I could buy anything else, my wallet definitely thanked me. I hope you guys enjoy this post and if you've tried any of these products comment below and let me know how you liked them. Also if you want to follow my Instagram it is @sweetserendipity96. Xoxo Alex~

Ice Princess!

 

Okay so I went ice skating last weekend for the first time in 10 years and I am so glad I did! Needless to say I was SO nervous, mostly just of looking stupid more than falling but I decided I needed to do it. I’m honestly the only Canadian in the world who can’t skate, I can get away with it when I’m living in Texas but when I am in Toronto I just feel like a loser!

 So last Friday my BFF and I went and got our skates sharpened because we were supposed to be going skating that next week but then in the car on the way home she drives by the rink, parks and says let go. It wasn’t too cold and the rink wasn’t even busy so I had ZERO excuses. I did however have to wear pink fuzzy socks because that’s all I had with me. I laced up my skates and stepped toward the ice, basically all the pictures in my head of how this was going to go down ended with me crashing to the ground and possibly sliding into someone. The last time I was on the ice I was about 8-9 and I wasn’t half bad but that was 10 years ago! Luckily Brina has skated before (true Canadian) and I was able to hold on to her arm for balance. So with my arm basically glued to B’s I hesitantly stepped onto the ice and amazingly didn’t crash or kill myself! Instead we made it around the rink over and over for a good 30 minutes, although I do admit there was one moment where we both lost our balance and almost collided with a child but we made it. The security skating guy who goes around the rink laughed at us but that was the worst of it!

 I’m so glad I went and had B with me to keep me from dying and for also getting me out there to face the nervousness of being back on the ice. If she hadn’t been there to pressure me and support me(literally, I couldn’t stand on my own at first) I probably still wouldn’t have made it out there!