Fall Beauty Essentials- Rose Golds

Ahh, simply mentioning the word 'fall' and I instantly picture the most glorious time of year. 

As promised, I'm sharing some of my favorite beauty products for autumn. 

I like using darker shades on both the eyes and lips this season...something about it just screams class to me. Another trend I'm loving for the fall is all the rosy tones, in fact now that I'm looking at the pics, most of my products were rose inspired!

I simply adore the rose gold shades with deeper shades on the lips.

I'm also really liking playing with a pop of blue or green on the eyes! Although I have blue eyes myself, I still like adding a pop of warm greens to really capture the sense of the season.

I also tend to use more blush than bronzer in the colder months to really add an intense flush of color.

Starting clockwise:
1//Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette
2// Revlon Lip Butter in Red Velvet
3//The Balm Instain Blush in Houndstooth
4//Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on pencil in Desperation
5//L'oreal 24hr Infallible eyeshadow in Golden Sage
6//Clinique Blush in Iced Lotus
7//Revlon Just Bitten Kissable balm stain in Honey
8//Maybelline Eyestudio quad in Makeover Mocha
9//L'oreal Silkissime Eyeliner in Plum
10//L'oreal 24hr Infallible eyeshadow in Amber Rush
11// Mac lipstick in Plumful

Let me know if you'd like to see some makeup looks using the products above! What are some of your favorite fall trends?

Fall Essentials

So, I'm about to go all stereotypical white girl on you and share some of my favorites for fall!

Fall is my absolute favorite time of year. I love the cooler weather, the foods and drinks, the outfits and most importantly, it's my birthday season! 

I've saved my favorite beauty products for another post, so this is just a random collection of my fall inspired loves (except the nail polish I forgot to include in the other pics, so I threw it in here!)

1// Burnt red polish-perfect for this time of year

2// 'Leaves' candle from Bath and Body Works (an all time fav for me)

3// Sweet cinnamon pumpkin candle-yum!

4//Werther's carmel apple candies (oh so addicting!)

5//Sparkly ceramic pumpkins from the Dollar Tree

6// Orange and leopard Fossil wallet I found at Goodwill for $5!

Not pictured:

Pumpkin muffins from Target -if you haven't tried these RUN DON'T WALK!

Carmel apple cider- Starbucks or my at home Keurig version

my favorite brown boots- a staple for this time of year! 

scarves! enough said.

What are some of your fall favorites?

Allure Sample Society Review: Is it better than Ipsy?

I've been debating for a while now whether I was going to continue on with my Ipsy subscription. I've had it for about two years now (crazy!!!) and I was just itching for a change. I did my research and found Allure Sample Society.

Here are the details:

• $15 a month (shipping included) 
• Five deluxe-size beauty samples—so you can use each one more than once
• Curated mix of skin, hair, and makeup products, as well as fragrance
• Allure mini-mag, packed with in-depth beauty sample product reviews written by Allure editors
• $10 BeautyBar.com gift card to redeem on any $50 Beauty Bar purchase

I've been subscribed for two months now, so here's a peek into what I got in my two boxes:

Now to the nitty-gritty....

Here's what I like so far:

• The products are more high-end than what I generally receive in my Ipsy subscription. (Meaning the products are valued at a higher cost. For example, September's allure box was valued at over $95 and I got two full sized products. Whereas my Ipsy bag for August was valued around $25)
• There's a bigger variety in the products. Ipsy typically is mostly makeup with the occasional skincare/haircare item. In the Allure box, it's always a mix of skincare/haircare and makeup and occasionally a fragrance. 
• It's packaged nicer. I always say that I wish Ipsy would get rid of the bag and add in another beauty product because most of the time I don't like the style of bag and to be frank, I have a crap ton of bags. In the Allure box, it definitely feels more fancy when you open it. I love the bright red box (which I reuse for storage!) and the crinkles and tissue add a nice touch, without being wasteful or excessive, unlike the Ipsy bags. 
• I like that they include the magazine which shows how much each item costs, how it's used, and why Allure likes it. That really helps when you get a product and you have no idea what it is! Plus, it's nice to see a price to show just how much your $15 stretched. 

Now onto the dislikes:

• Obviously, the biggest one is that it's $5 more expensive. Now, I actually don't really mind it because I feel like I am still getting more for my money. To me, the point of these subscriptions is to try things you normally wouldn't buy for yourself. With the Allure box, these are all brands that I could never afford to just buy at the store. 
• I don't really like that they include the fragrance sample as a 'sample'. These are typically free in any department store, so I don't see the point in including them. Now, if they were a bonus sample, that would be another story. I also never end up using them because I tend to be pretty picky with scents. But I will say my friends and family always end up with a billion samples! 

So there's my full review on the Allure box! I am excited to see what I will get next, and I will be sure to start documenting that on here if you'd like! Yes, I am going to show my August and September Ipsy bags (I still haven't gotten my Sept. bag but that's another story). I think I will continue with my Ipsy subscription another month and I will decide then which I will continue with. 

If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask!

I'm not affiliated with either subscription service, and I actually pay with my own money. Although, now that you mention it, it'd always be nice to get free stuff ;) However, I do get credits if you subscribe to either service by clicking on the links to the left of my page and links in this post. 

Project Goo: One Month Update

Two months ago, I started a project to try to use up and eliminate a lot of the leftover beauty products I have lying around half used. I started with 30 products...here's how I did so far:

I had 16 body/skin/haircare products and now I have successfully gotten rid of half of them! 

I have to say though, I am making very good progress on the rest. Most are actually almost empty but I wanted to be fair and only count the things that I truly threw away. 

Now onto makeup:

I've made it a point to use each of these products. After using them again for a few times, there were some I just did not like. Those I ended up giving to my Sis-in-law and have been trying to use the rest more often. Actually, I might start another pile of products to give to her!

Oh, and I discovered a rekindled flame for that FratBoy blush. LOVE IT! It looks so beautiful sheered out. See, this project has been so useful! 

I'll check back in next month for (fingers crossed) the last update. 

The ABC's of Book Lovers!

I thought I'd do this fun quiz...The ABC's for books!

Author you read the most books from: Probably Nicholas Sparks. I am not a fan of every single novel (The Best Of Me being one I don't really prefer) but I'm pretty sure I've read all his books besides two: The Choice and his most recent one. 

Best Sequel ever: I really loved If You Leave, which was the sequel to If You Stay. I liked the main guy character a lot, and it was just as cheesy and cute as the first one. (Beware, I did NOT like the third book the the series). 

Currently Reading: With school and work right now, I haven't had a chance to pick up another book. But I just finished reading Nash and LOVED it. It was really relatable to my life, so I enjoyed it! (Note: Nash is the fourth book in the Marked Men series)

Drink of choice while reading: I don't really drink anything while reading...to much multitasking. But I love coffee, tea and hot chocolate! 

E-reader or Physical book: Both! For books that I really love, I want a physical copy of, but generally, I look and see which is cheaper (amazon or nook) and then buy based off that! 

Fictional character you would have actually dated in high school:  Surprise, surprise. Augustus Waters. SWOON! He can tell me "okay" any day, any time. 

Glad you gave this book a chance: 50 Shades. I know, I know. But I was curious and read it. Sue me. The first book was not my thing at all and I almost stopped reading it several times...but I kept with it and stuck it out until the end. I don't know why, but when I got to the second book, I enjoyed it more. I was able to get past all that kinky crap and see a pretty cute love story. 

Hidden gem book: When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. I feel like I haven't really heard of anybody talk about this book. It's fantastic. It's one of those where you really only understand it until the very end and when you do, it's like MIND.BLOWN. It's a children's book I believe, so it's a quick and easy read. 

Important moment in your reading life: I was in 5th grade and we were doing book reports. My friend was telling me about the book she had read, which was about a time in the past where people were sent to camps and murdered just because of their religion. I didn't believe her and went to the library to check out the book she had read. I read The Diary of Anne Frank that evening and finished it by the next day. 

Just finished: oops, I already answered this one! It's Nash by Jay Crownover. 

Kinds of books you won't read: I'm not a big information book reader. Like it's torture for me to read my school textbooks. 

Longest book you've read: I honestly have no clue! Oh, maybe The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer. 

Major book hangover because of: The end of TFIOS. Enough said. 

Number of bookcases you own: I technically only have one bookcase, but I store my books all over my room. It's a collection problem. 

One book you've read multiple times: Time Travelers Wife. One of my favorite books and I like to read it during the winter. I don't know if you consider this a book or not...but I also read The Tell Tale Heart every halloween!

Preferred place to read: In bed, in my cozy chair, on the floor, in the library on campus. Riding the bus to school...etc. 

 Basically anywhere I have time.

Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you've read:   Ok, so I have narrowed it down to a few of my favorites:

“Time is priceless, but it’s free. You can't own it, you can use it. You can spend it. But you can't keep it. Once you've lost it you can never get it back.” 
― Audrey Niffenegger, The Time Traveler's Wife

-TFIOS, John Green 

“We accept the love we think we deserve."

― Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower

“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” 
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

Reading regret: I sorta regret reading The Divergent Series. I did a whole post on them, but basically I wish I had only read the first one and skipped the other two. 

Series you started and need to finish (all books are out in series): I need to finish the Maddox Brothers Series. I read the sample to Beautiful Wedding and it kinda made me mad, so I didn't buy it. But I wanna finish the series, so I will eventually. 

Three of your all time favorite books: Man, this is difficult.

 I narrowed it down to The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery;  The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green;  and 1984 by George Orwell. 

Unapologetic fan-girl for:  If you've read this far, you know...The Fault in Our Stars.  (More like an overall John Green fan. I am a nerdfighter, no doubt about it.)

Very excited for this release more than all the others: I'm excited for Rowdy by Jay Crownover to come out this October but other than that I can't think of any I'm waiting to release. 

Worst bookish habit: When I get curious and/or bored in a book, I skip to the end and read the last page. I hate that I do that because I kicked myself in the foot several times and ruin some serious plot twists for myself. Side note: reason #125 why I love John Green. His first sentence in the back of the book in the authors note is typically along the lines of this : "If you are reading ahead to figure out what happens STOP IT YOU SNEAKY LITTLE SNEAKSTER! Go back to your chapter." 

Yep. He gets me. 

X marks the spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book: Redeeming Love,  by Francine Rivers

Your latest book purchase: I just got Devils Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three by Mara Leverett for $0.50 at a yard sale! Can't wait to read it!

ZZZ snatcher book (the book that kept you up WAY late): I'm pretty sure every book I read I end up staying up too late. I just have to figure it out!

Thanks The Lovely One for letting me steal this!

2014 Liebster Awards

I cannot believe it's already time for another round of the Liebster awards! I was nominated this year by the sweet Emily from her blog The Country Bluebird!

In case you don't know here are the rules:

-Each person must post 11 things about themselves, by answering the questions that the nominator has set for you

-Create 11 questions for the bloggers you nominate to answer

-Choose bloggers, with less than 200 followers, and link them in your post.

-Go to their blog and leave them a comment to let them know! 

-No tag backs

Here's the questions I got:

1. If you could change your name,what would you change it to?

It's a running joke in my family that everyone, including me, hates my name. (Amber is TOTALLY a stripper name). In fact, my nana only calls me by nickname (typically AC). 

With that being said, I so wish my first name was my middle name, Caroline. I adore the name and even more so because it was my great grandmothers. 

2. What do you do when you need to clear your head?

As stupid as it sounds, I either go window shopping, read a book, or read blogs. Also, showers are great for me to work through things and to clear my head. Call me weird, I know!

3. What book is the most meaningful to you, and why?

This one's a toughie! Well, most recently, The Fault in our Stars. I kinda dislike how popular it's become (although, not shocked...it's really good!) because I just kinda want it to be mine only. I know how crazy that sounds, but that book is seriously a treasure and the idea that there are other people out there who can't see the beauty in it or only like/dislike it because of the movie, makes my chest hurt. I can't say enough great things about it.

4. Where would you go if you could go anywhere in the world?

This one's obvious. France, duh. Actually can I just say Europe in general? I'm dying to see Greece, Spain, Germany and Amsterdam (for reasons unrelated to TFIOS...mainly to see Anne Frank's house. I've had a secret obsession with her since like 2nd grade. Wow, we are way off topic here... ending the parenthesis now). 

5. What about blogging keeps you motivated?

For me, it's a fantastic way to be able to look back on my life and the different stages of life I was in. I love being able to look back on what I was doing/feeling/wearing two years ago, so that motivates me to keep up with it for future reference. I'm totally selfish, I know.

6. Apple or Android? Which do you prefer?

I'm an apple girl. It's what I know and I would be a traitor otherwise since my oldest brother works for Apple. 

7. If you had to choose a favorite musician, who would it be?

Again, if you know me, you'd think my initial answer would be Taylor Swift, which is very true! But more recently, I've been jamming to Ed Sheeran a lot. I love his lyrics and his soulful voice. Right now, the song I'm listening to most by him is this one. So beautiful!

8. Country life or city life?

I'm a city girl by heart, but that doesn't mean I don't like escaping to the country every once in a while. Luckily some of my extended family live in the country so it's nice to visit them, but also reeeeeally nice to get back to the big town. 

9. What book character do you relate to the most?

I just finished a book called Nash and I kept thinking that I was struggling with a lot of the same things the main character, Saint, was dealing with. She had a lot of the same insecurities as I do and it gave me hope that one day I can overcome them!

10. What motivates you to get out of bed and get going?

I wouldn't say that anything necessarily motivates me, but really just a lot of obligations I have require me to actually get out of my bed. Ha! But really, I know that I want good grades, so even though I'm getting up at 6:30 everyday, I know it's worth it. Same on days when I'm working...

money > sleep

Strange concept, huh? 

11. Would you rather have dessert or entree?

Dessert ALL THE WAY. In fact, there are days where I don't even eat dinner, I just skip to dessert. Bad, Amber. Bad. 

Okay, so here are my nominees:

1. Angela at Sweet Caroline's Trashy Treasures

2. Denise at Deaf Girl Musings

3. The Lovely One at Looking for Luck, Love and...

4. Kyle at Views of a Slipnot/Reba/LadyGaGA/RealHousewives Addict

5. Shon at The Sunflower Mama

6. Faith at Pikes Place Blog

7. Mandy at Juggling Chic

8. The Life of CK and Nate

9. Laura at The Laura Way

and here are all of your questions!

1. What is one of your funniest childhood memories?

2. If you could pick one season (Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter) to live in for the rest of your life, which one would it be?

3. What is one of your holy-grail beauty products?

4. What are your top 2 favorite movies and why?

5. What book(s) do you like to reread over and over again? If you don't do that (maybe I'm the only crazy one who does) what is your all time favorite book?


6. Coffee, Tea, or Hot Chocolate or neither?


7. Where do you go/what do you do when you're having a bad day?


8. Who/what has made the biggest impact on your life?


9. If you have five minutes to talk to whoever you wanted (dead or alive or from the future) who would it be and what would you say?


10. Tell me about a time when you failed.
(No this isn't a job interview, I'm just curious!)


11. Name a song that you currently have on repeat!

Can't wait to hear your answers!

An Update

tap tap... screeeeeeeeach
Is this thing still on?


Welp, that was a really long, unexpected blog break!

I have excuses though! No really!! I do!

For starters, I started school again. I took a break last semester after I got my associates degree, with every intention on going back to get my bachelors. So I've started up at the University of North Texas! I'm taking 5 courses (two online) and am LOVING it so far.

I just smile while walking around campus. Now, don't get me wrong, I certainly don't regret going to community college first but there's something so magical about walking around a university. The trees, the lecture halls, the sororities, the speeding bikers passing by you...it's just this magnificent atmosphere that I am so excited to be apart of. I've also officially declared my major: Interdisciplinary Studies of EC-6th grade with a specialization in Special education.... which is just a bunch of fancy words for an elementary teacher that can also teach special ed!

All of the 5 courses I'm taking are specific to my major which makes them really interesting to me. If you're curious, here are the courses I'm taking: School and community health, Parenting in diverse families, Educational aspects of exceptional learners, musical foundations (which is a really cool class on the power of teaching with music...I have to learn to play guitar for the final!) and Linguistic studies. I'm truly loving them all so far. Ask me again in about 2 months, though!

So needless to say, school has been taking up a lot of my time recently!

Something else though has been a major event in my life over the past three weeks...

My mom and youngest brother have moved to the Sunshine State! I don't know if I've ever mentioned it here on the blog, but we are all originally from Florida, in fact, all of us were born there! It's always been a dream of ours to move back and after over 16 years in Texas and certain things falling into place, it was the perfect time. Currently, my mom is staying with my aunt in Tampa until she finds a job...she has several great leads, so fingers crossed!

Now where am I you ask?
Good question. For a while I thought it was going to be a tent on the campgrounds here in town...but a couple of good family friends offered me a place to stay temporarily. I've felt so much love from family and friends who were all so sweet and kind in welcoming me a place to live. Ultimately, a family friend, Janet, just bought a new house in Denton (where UNT is located) and I thought it was meant to be. She has a whole upstairs she's not using, so we are officially roomies! It's been so nice to be 5 minutes from campus (as opposed to the 1hr 15min drive I was doing). I am so thankful for her and to all of the other friends who were so generous to me!

So with all that being said, the past two weeks, we've packed up our apartment, moved me to Denton and my mom off to FL! There were a lot of tears sending her off, especially knowing that it's just me and my oldest brother left here in TX, but I am so excited for the future. I'm so proud that my mom is following her dreams, proud that my brother is going to be finishing high school early, and proud of myself for being brave enough to live on my own! It's been a huge leap of faith for all of us....but I have faith that we are going towards the right direction.

So anyway, that's what's been going on in my life recently. I'll be back to regular scheduled programming soon :D