Happy New Year! January 2, 2011
Posted by graciegrapes in Uncategorized.add a comment
Happy New Year everyone!
I know I haven’t been posting in a while…. nursing school definitely picked up the pace this fall semester, and I’m not sure if it’s going to be letting up any this coming one :-/ In addition to my normal classes I also got accepted for a perioperative nursing externship! While I am definitely looking forward to this semester it’s going to be a very busy one!
In between school I do still have to maintain a life, and part of my goals for this years will be to save up more money and start getting back in shape. Part of saving money will mean getting back on track with cooking my own food; definitely the best way to save money! So I will do my best to post up my adventures with cooking and baking 
I am also going to try and calm down with buying make-up and beauty products, but I have managed to build up a nice collection that I need to rediscover; I also have a couple of product reviews that I need to catch up on.
Getting back in shape has been LONG overdo for myself! I tend to have cycles of working out and being lazy, but this past year or so has definitely been the longest lull that I’ve had. I do have the P90x workout program, but I’m not sure if I’m going to start out with it since I don’t want to burn myself out. Perhaps I will build up to them after some easy workouts at the gym 
Well, hope everyone had happy holidays and I am looking forward to the new year!
Posts coming up…. March 31, 2010
Posted by graciegrapes in Uncategorized.add a comment
Sorry for the lack of posting lately. Work, school, and life in general have just started to get very hectic lately. I do, however, have a couple of postings in the works…
Just hang in there
Finally caught a break…. March 3, 2010
Posted by graciegrapes in Food, Uncategorized.add a comment
SOrry for the lack of updates lately… school and work have just taken over my life and left me less than inspired to do much of anything. My boyfriend and I realized that when we’re stressed and depressed we tend of eat out a LOT, as a result the workout plan I mentioned that we were going to be starting was put on the back-burner. During the past week or so we’ve eaten out at Europa, Cheesecake Factory, TGI Fridays, Olive Garden, Village Cafe, and Red Robin. When we didn’t eat out we turned to frozen pizzas.
To find out what suddenly pulled me out of slump, and for my food reviews… Keep Reading!
A sleepless night… January 27, 2010
Posted by graciegrapes in Uncategorized.add a comment
So recently I’ve been wanting to start a new blog. I’ve had blogs in the past on LiveJournal, Xanga, and most recently Vox. In fact, right before starting this WordPress I was just on my Xanga venting my recent thoughts on life, particularly my current relationship.
Anyways, since I am having some trouble sleeping I decided to check out my sister’s blog (http://ellenl.tumblr.com). My sister was always the “artsy” one; she was always writing, but looking over her blog kind of surprised me. I guess I had forgotten about that side of my sister.
Reading through her posts got me thinking about what direction to take this blog. My most recent blog (http://gracious.vox.com) was originally intended to be a spot for me to track the different beauty products that I was trying since I recently got interested in make-up, and was also compelled to share my experiences dealing with eczema (you can read more of the details there). However, I’m starting to find that beauty products are not enough to sustain my blogging, also I haven’t been completely satisfied with my Vox blog (I guess you might say I did not really give it a chance).
Regardless, that brings me to what I have decided for this blog. In my Xanga entry I wrote about many of the secrets that I have in my life; well, like my title says this blog is “Not so secret”. I am going to attempt to combine my recent interest in beauty/makeup with my other interests, such as food (like my sister), movies, traveling, and other not so secret aspects of my life. In a way this is my way of opening up, since having too many secrets starts to weigh you down.
All I ask is that you bear with me as I find my way through this blog. Who knows, maybe some of my secrets will find their way into the not so secret part of my life…
ELF Studio brush review January 7, 2010
Posted by graciegrapes in Beauty, Uncategorized.add a comment
So about a month or so ago I got the ELF studio brush set and the kabuki brush (www.eyeslipsface.com), and I been using them pretty much everyday.
I found that the face brushes and the kabuki do shed a little at first, but now I haven't noticed any shedding recently. All the brushes are very soft. The brushes I use the most are the eyeshadow brush (large eyeshadow brush great for applying color all over the lid), complexion brush (paddle shaped brush that I use to apply my bronzer and blush, contouring brush (reminds me of a large semi-fluffy pencil brush, it is perfect for applying eyeshadow to the crease), small angled brush (nice sized angle brush that I use to apply MAC fluidline), small smudge brush (nice for detail and applying color right to the lash line), and the kabuki (great for applying powder all over; very soft, semi- dense but not as much as the MAC 182).
So that leaves the fan brush, powder brush, small precision brush, concealer brush, angled foundation brush, and blush brush…
The powder brush is the flat top brush – I use this to apply my MSF all over the face, but personally I like using the kabuki brush. This brush is quite dense, and for everyday I like a lighter dusting of my powder which is achieved with the kabuki. If I were using just the powder on my face then I would reach for this brush.
The blush brush is basically a smaller version of the complexion brush. It's great if you want to be precise with your color placement, and perfect for contouring. Dense but fluffy brush.
The small precision brush is very similar to the smudge brush. It's slightly larger and not quite as firm. Honestly, I have not tried using this brush yet since I love using the smudge brush. I figure they have pretty similar use.
The fan brush it good quality, no shedding. But for me I just have not found much of a use for it, perhaps I', just not sure what to use it for.
The concealer brush is a nicer shape and size compared to the Sonia Kashuk brush I got originally (and ended up returning). However, I have not used it very much. I like using my fingers to apply and blend my concealer, but I am trying to start using this brush for my undereye (since I've learned that it's better to use a brush for the delicate area). I figure due to the shape, which is similar to the eyeshadow shader brush this may be a useful brush to apply MAC paints and paint pots. But like my concealer, I prefer using my fingers.
The angled foundation brush is a nice firm but soft foundation brush. I do have the Studio Tools Foundation brush, but I am just recently starting to apply my foundation using brushes. With the angled brush I found a tendency for a streaky appearance. Compared to my normal foundation brush I felt like this brush made application easier, esp around the nose and eyes; but it took a little more time to blend away streaks.
Overall I like this set of brushes, it's a great deal and nice quality brushes to start with.
Outlets and malls in Florida! December 30, 2009
Posted by graciegrapes in Beauty, Uncategorized.add a comment
So today was definitely a shopping day for us… went to Premium Outlets, Orlando Prime Outlets, and Mall at Milenia. We went to Florida Mall when we got here on Sunday. Mall at Milenia wasn't all that great, was expecting much more (it reminded me of tyson's, but not as big).
Trip to the outlets isn't complete without a stop at the CCO. Both of the outlets had them too. Prime Outlets didn't have too much at their CCO, but Premium Outlets was awesome! I got lucky and picked up 2 more brushes; 188 and 219!! Also got the sister the Hello Kitty Lip Conditioner in Popster
Also picked up a nice pair of Nike's and the eagle belt buckle that the boyfriend had been search all over for!
Next to days will be disney days for us
Early Christmas!! December 24, 2009
Posted by graciegrapes in Beauty, Uncategorized.add a comment
OMG!!! My sister's Christmas gift to me arrived early!!! My Coastal Scents palettes arrived today (we ordered them on Sunday, with normal FedEx ground shipping)!
Sooo excited!!! I've been waiting for eyeshadows to complete my new makeup set
I'll post pictures later – I'm too lazy to upload from my camera (I've got a bunch of pictures to add to here)
My boyfriend and I exchanged gifts early too. Right before Thanksgiving he got me a new TV for my room (Samsung 32" LCD TV). I told him that was enough but he went ahead and surprised me with a beautiful diamond ring and sapphire necklace (will definitely post pictures)!
I was also surprised today with little bonuses from both of the offices that I work at!
Hopefully the rest of the holidays will go just as well
BTW: packing for Florida was tougher than I thought it was going to be…. I hope we end up doing Disney for New Years! I haven't been in FOREVER and I'm actually looking forward to it. I guess it's a way to revisit my childhood 
CCO (Cosmetic Company Outlet) December 23, 2009
Posted by graciegrapes in Beauty, Uncategorized.add a comment
OMG! I went to the CCO in Williamsburg for the first time today. All I have to say is I CANNOT spend anymore money until I get paid and pay my credit card bill
This past weekend Ellen and I had been talking about how it sucked that we weren't into MAC when the Hello Kiity collection came out; everytime I see videos with Hello Kitty products I sigh. Well, after walking over to the MAC section the first think I noticed was the Hello Kitty packaging!! SOO EXCITING!! Despite the discounted prices I had to restrain myself…. I ended up just getting Fun&Games blush and Tahitian Sand beauty powder. I wanted to get at least one eyeshadow palette, but since Ellen is getting me the three Coastal Scents 88 palettes, I told myself I wouldn't buy any MAC shadows. My reasoning being that once I start using the 88 palettes I'll figure out which colors would be worth getting…. but part of me is still thinking about going back to the CCO to get one of the palettes Maybe after Christmas.. hopefully I get some envelopes containing money from the family!
From the CCO I also got a Mineralized Skinfinish Duo (Medium Dark/Shimmer) and a MAC 223 brush (since my 224 brush that my roommate's friend is sending hasn't gotten here yet, and I've been needing a blending brush). It was between the 222 and the 223, but I felt the 223 was a little softer and controlled better. We'll see how it works out
Snow storms… December 22, 2009
Posted by graciegrapes in Beauty, Uncategorized.add a comment
So this past weekend it snowed TONS! Despite the snow my sister and I went out to the mall; one – I had work, and two – 21 Forever was having it's grand re-opening. Definitely bought more than what I was expecting.
Either way, the snow gave me a chance to catch up on clean and organizing my room.
I was able to start organizing my dresser and my makeup collection. Before, I didn't really have makeup that needed organizing but my recent MAC addiction has changed that! I'm still in the process of figuring out if it really works for me. I will post picture later My organization resulted in 10 empty MAC pigments (holiday sets)! So I'm excited for my first "Back to MAC"!
I also redid my closet and desk, which I'll post up later too; since it's still kinda messy
The first picture is the before, middle is the after, and the last is my makeup organization
So an update on my skin…. right now I'm starting to feel pretty dry. I think the fragrance in the Lancome products started to break my out and dry out my skin a little. So I've stopped using them.
Tonight I plan on doing a LUSH facemask with Oatifix, since that always seems to revive my skin.
Lately I've been surfing around YouTube, and I'm debating whether or not to start a Vlog…. hmmm… we'll see
E.L.F December 17, 2009
Posted by graciegrapes in Beauty, Uncategorized.add a comment
YAY!!! So excited my shipment arrive from ELF cosmetics!!!
I ordered got the 11 brush Studio set, Studio Kabuki brush, Eye brightening pencil in Plum! I ordered eyeshadow primer, but they were out of stock 
I was first introduced to ELF when I picked up the brightening pencil in Plum a year or two ago at Target. I have since not been able to find a pencil with the same color – a beautiful jewel purple color that not too loud. Since my pencil was finally starting to get short I decided to heck out the website: www.eyeslipsface.com. For a dollar it's well worth it, but ordering only wasn't worth the $6 shipping for a pencil. As I looked around on the website I noticed that the brushes were pretty affordable. And since I needed a set of brushes I decided to give the studio line a try (esp. since it'll take a little bit before I can build up a MAC collection).
First impressions of the Studio brush…. super soft! The kabuki is maybe not as dense at the MAC 182, but it feels just as soft! The brush sets seems to have pretty useful brushes, especially perfect for someone just starting out. After I start using these brushes I'll write up a better review of the brushes.
side note:
A trip to the MAC counter to return my roommate's MSF resulted in me picking up the Haute High Jinks Pigment/Glitter Set. I wanted something more neutral….
