You know what term honestly grinds my gears: "blogger famous" like what does that even mean?? Does it mean that you are getting so many blog comments?? Does it mean that you get so many page views?? Does it mean that you have so many sponsors??? That's great that you get a ton of page views and that's great that you also get a ton of blog comments. But, isn't blogging all about community, what if you aren't blog famous but you have a great community? What if your community is a mixture of those we call blog famous and those we don't???

When I started blogging I didn't even know that "blog famous" was a thing and I had no idea that blogging had such an amazing community. I started blogging because I loved writing and I wanted a place to tell someone *read anyone* about what I liked, my shopping finds, or anything that I wanted to talk about, whatever that may be. If you told me two years ago that I'd be making some of my best friends off the internet on twitter, Instagram and this corner of the internet I would probably say no to you and carry on with my life. However, now that I have met some amazing people thanks to my blog I can honestly say I don't know what my life would be like with out them. Are there bloggers that I "fangirl" over?? Goodness yes, but for me it's a fangirling moment like"oh god I want to be friends with her, what do I say to be friends with her?? Is she going to think I am weird for tweeting her??" Part of me thinks that this fear comes from thinking that someone is so blog famous that they won't want to be "blog friends" with me and then that just makes me feel sad because I want to create my own community with people that I think would be good in my life.I sometimes feel like the term blogger famous takes away from the whole point of blogging. Which is that you should be making a community with your blog of people who you never thought you'd meet.

I am trying to teach myself that it doesn't matter how  many page views you get to have great blog friends. In my world I'd like to think that blogging isn't a popularity contest because it shouldn't be.

If someone were to ask me what a perk of blogging is I would tell them that I have met so, so many amazing people. Sure a blogger could get 20+ comments on their blog but maybe your comment stands out to them and because of that a relationship forms. It shouldn't matter how many comments you get or how many followers you get as long as you make a community. Because in my opinion bloggging takes a village, it takes people to help you get inspiration and it's always nice to have people who just get the blogging world. For all you know you could make some of your best friends by simply starting a blog and commenting on peoples posts (I know I did)

I may not get thousands of pages views or have thousands of followers but I have to tell you that I have made my own village and for that I am so thankful to my blog.

So take a risk and reach out to someone that you find "blog famous" for all you know they could be your new friend.

Keep Calm and Carry On
xoxo
Melissa

Over the past couple of months I have started to become more in love with makeup, especially the good quality makeup (I've written about my journey to find the perfect foundation, and it's still one of my tried and true staples). But, do you ever go shopping at a department store and feel overwhelmed by the numerous makeup counters who all seem to sell the same product and use the same techniques to sell you their products?? Well, I have learned that while they are all beauty and skin care products they are all different in their own ways. Makeup especially does different things for different people. I know I have some of my favorite brands of makeup. Which are, Bobbie Brown, Urban Decay, Dior, Clinique, and Estee Lauder. Real talk, these are only some of my favorites or some of my "go to" makeup items.

1. Estee Lauder Pure Color Blush - My favorite thing about this blush is that a little bit goes a very, very long way. Seriously I can put a minimal amount on my brush and use that amount for both of my cheeks. It has lasted me a long time and I have barely put a dent in this blush. Another perk about this blush is how natural it looks and how smooth it is when applied. 

2. Too Faced Chocolate Bar Pallet- First off, this pallet legit smells like CHOCOLATE, I can not emphasize how happy that makes me. Seriously, the entire pallet smells like chocolaty goodness and it makes me want a nice piece of chocolate (but since I am on Weight Watchers this pallet will have to do). Even though the pallet smells amazing, I was very hesitant to buy the pallet I had read mixed reviews on this pallet the main complaint on the pallet was that it wasn't very pigmented. However, I would have to disagree with the fact that it is not very pigmented, while the colors do need two coats, one coat is GREAT for a low maintenance makeup day. Also, when you use a primer as a base the colors are much, much more pigmented and you need less eye shadow when you use a primer. 

3. Naked 3 Pallet- This is my go to pallet, seriously I have a huge obsession with the naked 3, I use all of the colors (not one color has gone unused). And, usually there are two to three colors in a pallet that I won't even touch. However, I am able to find creative ways to use the darker colors of this pallet to make a great night out look. 

4. Clinque Take the Day Off Eye Makeup Remover- I have incredibly sensitve eyes. Seriously, one time I put a covergirl eyeshadow on my eyes and my eyes swelled up like cute little golf balls. Another time I tried Ponds eye makeup remover and my eyes itched for hours. However, I have no allergic reaction to this eye makeup remover and again, a little bit goes a very, very, VERY, long way. No joke this whole bottle should last me three months. I use my cotton balls till they are covered in eye makeup so I get the bang for my buck, if you will. 

5.  Dior Airflash foundation- Real talk, this foundation has me oooing and ahhing at its coverage. It's definatly not my everyday foundation. But when I have special events or any event where I know I need coverage, I whip this stuff out and apply...the best part?? You only need two little sprays to cover your whole face when using a foundation brush. 

6. Dior Show & Dior Addict Mascaras - I use both of these enterchangably. I use the Dior Show *new look* when I want a dramatic well defined eye look. I use the Addict when I want a more natural look. They both come off relatively easily. What I like most about both of these is that they both are very, very black mascaras and they both have incredible brushes. 

7. Dior Show eyeliner- I know, I know, I use a ton of Dior, but really, it works. It lasts all day, and I don't have to apply a thick line to make it last all day. One line on my water line and the liner lasts all day!!! Plus time wise it lasts about 4-5 months so that also makes me one happy camper. 

8. Urban Decay - Eden Primer - This primer makes my life a breeze in the morning. It makes my already pigmented eye shadows even more pigmented. And, when I use this primer I need less eye shadow. Plus, you only need a little bit when applying to your eyelids. I tried some other primers by Urban Decay but this one is by far my favorite!!

9. Bobbie Brown powder press - This can be use as a finishing powder if you want heavy coverage but if you are running late for the day and need some coverage you can always put this on over some moistrisor and it provides decent coverage when in a time crunch...I am totally speaking from experience here (I am NOT a morning person at all...this girl likes her sleep)

10. Bobbie Brown SPF foundation - I have mentioned this foundation about a year ago and my opinions are still the same. This is my ever day foundation, I love the coverage and I really, really love that it has an SPF in it. It also does not dry out my skin which I also love. When I was matched at Nordstrom they matched me perfectly, so if I forget to blend my foundation it's not even that noticeable. 

11. MAC liquid eye liner - When I want a dramatic eye look or a more defined eye look I turn to this liquid eyeliner. I apply it to the top of my eye lid near my lash line and it makes for a great defined eye look. Plus, it lasts....all day...and if you forget to take it off at night, it's still there in the morning (again totally speaking from experience, late nights call for instant sleep sometimes). 

Do you have any makeup favorites??? I want to hear about them!!! 

Keep calm and Carry On 

xoxo

Melissa

Let's talk about something that we all love, or appreciate, which is our hair. Seriously though, I have a slight obsession with my hair. I love making it look pretty and I like it when I get it colored, I also have an obsession with hair products. When I heard about Dry Bar I thought it was a really cool concept, I can go in get pampered and have cute hair for a couple of days. (Thanks dry shampoo for being fabulous). After perusing around the interwebs I found a local blow out business called Heat Lounge. Real talk, I have a passion for local businesses, I just want all the unicorn local businesses to expand and be little unicorn businesses. Since getting a blow out was on Rachael's 22 before 22 we set up appointments and went. 

(I tried to do a "blogger pose" it's semi weird looking) 

The blow dry and makeup bar was slightly tucked away underneath some apartment compexes, but, once you find it you will always know how to get there. 

We were loving the outside with the blow dryer chilling as a you can find us in here sign. 

When I walked into the blow dry and makeup bar I INSTANTLY fell in love. I had checked out the photos on the internet but, real talk, they don't even do the inside justice. (my photos won't even do it justice but you are going to get a sneak peak of all the fun interior decorations. Might I add that when you walk in you get complimentary cappuccinos, coffee, wine or my personal favorite champagne. 

Don't mind if I do. 

You walk in and see vibrant colors and the friendliest front desk staff. I felt at home as I walked in, I was also ready to be pampered. Heat Lounge is a Moroccan oil product salon, I have tried their oils before but never their shampoos and hairsprays.The products are made to enhance the health of your hair, the products held my hair in place but also allowed it to have that natural movement. 

 I may have had a slight obsession with the chairs that you get your hair washed in. I really liked how they incorporated modern design into the blow dry bar.

Becca's hair was smooth and straight. Honestly her hair was shcokingly straight. 

 Becca and I adventured to the VIP room to see what it's all about while Rachael was getting her hair and makeup done. (Her hair looked fabulous by the way)

I was loving the natural wave look that she was rocking.

Moroccan oil was everywhere throughout the salon. ALL of the products smelled amazing, as she was washing my hair I wanted to ask her to keep washing it for a while so I could keep smelling (is that weird?)

My hair lasted all night and my makeup had amazing coverage. Seriously I am so picky with how I like my makeup and the makeup artist listened to me 100%

I asked them to do things as I would at home with some flair, I also showed them pictures for how I wanted my hair and they delivered. 

And here is the final look friends. I personally was loving my eyebrow game and I was also loving my blow out! 

I am totally going back for more blowouts!!! If you live in the Atlanta area here is a bonus for checking into their blow dry and makeup bar. 

If you are in the Atlanta area call them and set up an appointment, you'll be treated like royalty and you will leave looking like a fabulous unicorn. 

Keep Calm and Carry On 

xoxo 

Melissa 

*Heat lounge provided us with free makeup applications in exchange for this blog post.* 

AND!! Because everybody likes cash,  a ton of fabulous bloggers are giving away $200 in paypal cash!!! I know you're excited...so get clicking to win that cash! 

Rachel | Melissa | Laura | Sierra | Ashley | Jules | Heather | Becca | Kelly | Christine | Holly | Kolbi | Morgan | Rachael | Rebekah | Allison | Jenny | Vivian | Kelly

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Not a drill friends, I have been drafting this post for about two weeks. I don't know why I don't press publish every time I finish a post like this one, I keep it saved in word and I never press that "Publish" button. I don't know why. So friends this is round 5 of writing this post. It may come off as a ramble, so I apologize in advance.

We are going to be talking about lifestyle changes, some of you may call this a diet, or a detox but lets be real "diets" are just a short term fix that are usually a chore. And detoxes make you so hungry you want to eat four Chipotle burrito bowls by the end of the day. While some people can diet for the rest of their life, I cannot. Real talk friends, I love food, Cupcakes, Mac and Cheese, Cake, and Chipotle,  However, if I eat Chipotle every day my body can't handle it and I gain weight, if I have three cupcakes in a week my body also doesn't like that and it gains weight.

When I started Weight Watchers, I started thinking about all of the foods I was eating, how I wasn't exercising, how my lifestyle of eating was eating out and eating quick. I forgot that you could eat quick and eat healthy, I was going for comfort food and easy food. When I started Weight Watchers I also told myself that this would be the last time I EVER joined the program and I was going to follow it not to lose weight but to gain a new lifestyle. I don't know if you can make sense of that so let me try to explain it. Yes, I want to lose weight, but I also want to keep the weight off and have a new me for a lifetime.

I feel like when people decide to get on the #fittrain or decide to lose weight they put SO MUCH pressure on themselves and then they give up because they get let down when they don't see results so quick or they eat like crap one day and then that one day of eating like crap turns into 10. Then they fall off the #fittrain and decide to "take a break" because food is yummy and they can't be happy if they aren't eating what they want. Plus "what's the point I haven't seen results in two weeks obviously this isn't working" *cue the doughnuts and excess amounts of pumpkin spice lattes*. Yes, that's me I am talking about, and if that's you, you probably understand where I am coming from right now. Newsflash to Melissa almost a year ago Starbucks holiday drinks add on those pounds, stick to your Skinny Caramel Macciatos.

So I made a decision when I pressed the subscribe button to Weight Watchers, this would be a lifestyle change. My life style could still include the things I love but in moderation and allowing myself a day to eat some things I wouldn't normally eat. Seriously, since Rachael is in town I have had certain things I wouldn't normally eat but it's not like I am going hog wild, I am learning how to decide what to eat and when I want to eat it.

The thing about making a "diet" a lifestyle is deciding that you will not deprive yourself of the things you love...or at least that's how my brain works. Sure, you are going to have days where you eat something that you probably shouldn't but, the ability to understand that one pumpkin spice latte is not going to attack your life. It's the repeated Pumpkin Spice Lattes that come in and add on those pounds.

So, if you want to eat something that may not be the best for you, eat it in a smaller quantity and do NOT feel guilty. Feeling guilty only leads you one step closer to falling off the wagon. If you are making a lifestyle change you go little unicorn, you are doing all the right things. Life shoulnd't be boring. Diets are restricting and boring, but a life style is something that never gets old because each day is different.

Have you ever quit a diet because it became to be too much??

Keep Calm and Carry On
xoxo
Melissaa

Goodbye is hard, wouldn't you agree? Saying goodbye is hard because you don't usually want to, saying goodbye (in my case) meant saying goodbye to one of my fur babies. And this goodbye, it wasn't a temporary goodbye. This was an "I'll see you in heaven goodbye". It was the goodbye that hurt my heart, and made me cry tears until my eyes were dry and itchy. Yesterday I said goodbye to my best friend and companion. It was probably the hardest thing I have had to do. Scotchie was 16 years old and had diabetes and over the last two weeks his illness and his age was taking over his body. I didn't want to see him go but I knew in my heart that his life was no longer a happy life. 

When we first got Scotchie, I picked him out because he was this rich apricot color, and he was so energetic, being a kid, I loved the fact that he wanted to play with me. Right then and there my mom and I fell in love with this furry bundle of joy. When we brought him home, I kept on telling her that he looked like butterscotch candies and that I wanted to name him butterscotch (I was a very insistent child that the dog have that name). However my mom told me to shorten it so I picked Scotchie, it was simply unique to him. I wanted him to have a name that was different from other dogs as well (so thanks mom for making me think outside the box a little bit). 

He ALWAYS wanted to be the center of attention, as I did my homework he'd sit on my book bag as if to say "this is what I think about your school work....it's boring"

He even went to Phipps Plaza and went inside Tiffany's (the ruff life)

And sometimes he did housework because he liked to use the carpet as a lawn. 

Scotchie provided me with late night cuddles, he always knew how to sneak food (even the food he wasn't supposed to have). I don't really know what else to say besides the fact that he really was my best friend, and while today is easier I miss him. I am sure I will continue to miss him, and he hopefully misses me too. I know that he can do much more in dog heaven than what he was doing on earth. 

(the proof)

I was given 16 wonderful years with such a wonderful gift. Sometimes I think that he knew when I was upset or when  I needed more cuddles than usual. I'd like to think that he loved his life with me and my family as much as I loved him. I didn't want to say goodbye, and I still don't think its 100% real that I said goodbye.

So if Scotchie could read I would tell him this: You gave me 16 wonderful years of love and attention. I will never forget how much I loved you, and I hope you knew that you really meant the world to me. I know Emma will have to step up to the plate and get into more trouble since you're not around. Thank you for being the best dog to me, and thank you for always giving me cuddles and love. Keep smiling Scotchie and remember that mommy, daddy, sissy and emma love you so much. 

xoxo

Melissa