Post-Show Haul

One fun thing about working in theatre is getting to see lots of different styles of clothing. For a while, I was stuck in the 20s, as I did a series of shows in that period. This last show I did, Seminar, was contemporary. The costume design concept was upscale hipster, which meant that I pretty much loved all the clothes.

For example: I love Liz's whole outfit in this photo, especially her blue and white polka dot button-up shirt.

(l to r) Liz Hayes*, Christopher Tarjan*, Jordan Ahnquist*, and Jesse Hinson*
* Denotes Member of Actors' Equity Association, Photo Credit: David Costa

All of Sophorl's clothes were to die for and she looked amazing in all of them. Case in point, this ensemble:

Sophorl Ngin, Photo Credit: David Costa

One thing that Stoneham Theatre, at least, will do is let the actors buy back any costume pieces they want at the end of the show, so long as the costume designer and production manager don't think that it's an item that should be kept in the costume stock for future shows. Because this show had fairly run of the mill modern clothing, it was pretty much all up for grabs. Jesse and Sophorl both bought some of their clothes (including those "leather" leggings!); I got in the action and bought a few items as well.

One thing I knew I wanted was Liz's grey, printed tube scarf. It's from H&M, but because it was used in the show, I got to buy it back for half price ($5).

One can never have too many scarves.

Another item I bought that was in the show was Sophorl's knit, lime green hat, originally from H&M. Sure, I could probably make a hat like this as it is a fairly simple pattern, but, again, at half price ($3), it was quite the bargain. [I couldn't find a link for the hat (I suspect she got it on clearance) or a professional photo, so you get one of me instead.]

My new favorite pop of color.

The final item I bought didn't make the cut for the show. It was a purse for Sophorl, but it got replaced by a tribal, fringy one that better fit her character. Her bag was one of the other things that Sophorl bought. Anyways, the bag I bought is a Mossimo Supply Co bag from Target. Because it hadn't gotten used and could potentially be returned, I had to pay full price for it ($20), which was honestly still quite reasonable. I mean, I could have just gone to Target and picked out a bag, but buying it from the theatre was so much more convenient, and hey, I really like the bag! It's a lot like a brown one I had from Charlotte Russe that just recently died, except that this one is black whereas the old one was brown. I'd been looking for a black bag that was interesting enough for everyday but that was also simple enough to be "professional" for job interview, etc. I also really like that the strap can be short to use as an over the shoulder bag, or lengthened to be a cross body strap.

Great utilitarian bag that I can dress up or dress down.

There were so many other things from the show that I considered buying, but none of the clothes fit quite right, so I couldn't really justify a bigger shopping spree from the Seminar closet. In any case, I'm super excited to start wearing/using the three things I did get.

Life Update

Three exciting things have happened to me lately. The first thing will not be surprising as I've already taken several photos. I got a hair cut! It was a long time coming. Last time I got my hair cut was before I went to Williamstown 16 months ago. Anyways, you've seen it before, but here it is!

My thoroughly modern bob.

The second exciting thing is that Mike and I got new phones! Both of us have been itching to get new phones for various reasons. Turns out we were eligible for upgrades before we realized so we scooted off to get phones right as soon as we knew. I was about 99% sure that I wanted the HTC One and after reading up on it I was positive. In the end Mike also got the HTC One as it's pretty much the best phone on the market at the moment. So far I am loving it. It is bigger than my old phone which has advantages and disadvantages. Doesn't fit in my pocket very well, but the bigger screen sure comes in handy for most things.

My sexy new phone.

Finally, the biggest news. On Thursday, I signed an Equity contract to be the Production Stage Manager at Stoneham Theatre for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. YAAAAAYYYY!!!!! Rather than be the Production Assistant for the rest of the season after that, I'll be the Equity Assistant Stage Manager for all the larger shows. I'm really excited as I never thought I'd be getting my card this soon, though it was something I was aiming for eventually.

I'll get back to the fun posts tomorrow, but I felt like I should share all my news.

Make-up Look of the Day (Friday)

Lovely neutral look I'm definitely going to try again.

I was really happy with how my make-up turned out on Friday and wanted to share it, especially as it used some of my favorite products that I use on a daily basis. I've been sitting on the photos for this post for a couple days but knew it was gonna take a bit more time than I've had to write it up. So tonight I threw on some Cutthroat Kitchen and got to typing.

Here you can see all the things I used to create the look, including the staples of my e.l.f. brushes, my bargain eye lash curler, and the scent I chose to wear (Dark Kiss from Bath & Body Works).

All the goodies

Face
Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturizer in Shade 01
Clinique Redness Solutions Targeted Concealer
e.l.f. Essential Clarifying Pressed Powder in Ivory and in Honey
Forever 21 Peach Shimmer Eyeshadow
Physician's Formula Mineral Blush in Rosy Glow

Most days, I tend to go lighter and only use pressed powder, but I decided to put on my Clinique Tinted Moisturizer. I love what a great base it gives to my make-up and just how much better my skin looks when I use it. After that I popped on my Clinique concealer, my e.l.f. pressed powder, my favorite blush from Physician's Formula (I use this almost every, single day), the darker powder from e.l.f. as a contour, and the shadow from Forever 21 as my highlight.

A little sparkle and a little flush.

Eyes
e.l.f. Studio Cream Eyeshadow in Candlelight
e.l.f. Essential Jumbo Eyeshadow Stick in Little Miss Thing
Clinique Shadow Quad (a sample one so there's no link)
NYC Kohl Brow/Eyeliner Pencil in 992 Dark Brown
Clinique High Definition Mascara (discontinued)
Maybelline Volume Express One by One Waterproof Mascara
Maybelline Expert Wear Brow & Eye Pencil in Medium Brown

Amazing neutral quad from Clinique

For my eyes I used my e.l.f cream eyeshadow in Candlelight as a nice, light, shimmery base. I pretty much always use one of my e.l.f. cream eyeshadows every day. It just depends on what the look will be to determine which color I'll use. When I use Candlelight, I usually put the excess that is left on my finger along my nose and on my cheekbones to enhance my powder highlight. On top of the Candlelight, I used the shadows from the Clinique shadow quad. I'm going to be ever so sad when I run out of these colors, because I have no idea which ones they are. It isn't one of their normal quads, but a special edition one, so the shadow colors aren't even listed on the back. Anyways, I love this quad because it is the perfect little pallet for a neutral look. And depending on how much of the different colors I use, it can be more subtle or a smokey eye.

Closer look at the eyes.

After I was happy with the shadow, I put on a skiff of the NYC eyeliner in Dark Brown, and smudged some of the darkest color from the quad on top of it to blend it into the color world I was creating. Then, I had the brilliant idea to use the e.l.f. Jumbo Eyeshadow Stick in the inner corners of my eyes to really make them pop. After that I used my (apparently discontinued) Clinique mascara with the Maybelline on top to add more volume and waterproof it. Lastly, I lightly filled in my brows with my Maybelline brow pencil.

Lips
Clinique Long Last Lipstick in Bamboo Pink

I must admit that I've never really understood the more understated, frosty pink lipsticks that some people really love. However, Clinique's Long Last Lipstick in Bamboo Pink has won me over. It's similar to what I get from one of my Burt's Bees Lip Shimmers, but just a bit more polished. It has become one of the things I grab out of my lip box, more often than not.

And that was my make-up look from Friday!

Beauty Review: e.l.f. Essential Liquid Eyeliner

Sparkle in a bottle

This review is inspired by my recent purchase and use of e.l.f.'s Essential Liquid Eyeliner in Copper. However, I should point out that I have been using this same eyeliner in black for quite some time. Pretty much anytime I do a winged liner look, I use this eyeliner. It goes on nice and smooth, and lasts all day without fading or smudging. At only $1, it is a crazy awesome price for a good quality product.

Well, as I mentioned a few days ago, I bought this liner in Copper. Yesterday I went ahead and tried it out for the first time. I was going to put it all over my lid for a more dramatic look, but since all I was doing was work, I decided to be more subtle. I applied it right over the smudgy slate eyeshadow I'd already put along my lash line. It made for a nice flash of sparkle every time I blinked.

Nice bit of copper flash along my lash line.

Overall, I am very happy with this liner. The staying power it had in black holds true in copper. I was lazy last night and didn't remove my eye make-up. Now, around 36 hours from when I applied it, it is still holding steady on my lash line. The only complaint I have is that it took much longer to dry than the black version. In black, it dries quite quickly. In the copper, however, it was probably almost a minute before I was able to open my eyes fully without worrying that i was going to end up with glitter under my brows.

I could not manage to take a picture that captured the liner very well (or that flattered me), so this is what you get. In person, though, it was more apparent and sparkled more. I have to say, I want to go and buy this eyeliner in every single color now.

Beauty Review: e.l.f. Studio Matte Lip Color

Today I decided to be bold and try out my new e.l.f. Matte Lip Color in Rich Red. I'd originally planned on also trying out my new glitter liner, but the red lip was such a statement that I decided to save the glitter for another day. I was pleased to find that the lipstick was fairly red when applied, despite the swatch I'd done on my hand looking more pinky.

Start the day off with a statement.

Not only was I happy with the color, but it was also nice on my lips. It's matte, so it wasn't quite like wearing a standard lipstick, but it didn't dry out my lips either. It also did a good job of not moving once it was on my lips, so long as I wasn't eating or drinking. And even then, if I was just sipping on my tea, there wasn't much that transferred to my mug. I managed to keep up with it until between shows when I ate dinner. At that point, I decided to give in to the inevitable and let it wear off a bit. I just dabbed some Rosebud Salve on top of whatever was left and called it a day. By the end of the night, it was actually a nice pink of leftover stain.

Two shows done!

The color in the second picture didn't come out great, but I promise my lips are a much brighter pink than they are naturally. I think it is definitely a home run in the red lip department and I won't hesitate to wear it again, especially for a special occasion where there's not much eating or drinking.

Beauty + Tea Haul

Isn't he so cute?

Yesterday, before rehearsal I ran to Target because there were a few things I needed, one of which I could only get at Target. Well, I ended up with none of the things on my list. Instead, I got a bunch of other fun things (including some stuff for Mum, but I'm not going to talk about that!) including this adorable fox dish. It's really tiny, and though they marketed it as a candy dish, I'm going to use him as a tea bag rest.

Well, to say I got nothing on my list is a bit of an exaggeration. I needed some more make-up wipes and I had wanted to try a specific brand that Target supposedly carries. I looked everywhere and couldn't find them, so I ended up getting some store brand apricot exfoliating ones that I'm actually pretty excited to try.

Hello gorgeous!

The other things I got were all e.l.f. products, because I'm incapable of walking into a Target without buying at least one thing from them- it's all so inexpensive! I got a new eye lash curler (though I can't find it online for some reason), because I've had mine forever and the pad is super gross. The best part is, e.l.f. sells replacement pads, so when this one gets all goopy, I can just replace the pad. I also picked up some individual lashes to put in the outer corners of my eyes next time I do something special. I think it will really make my eyes pop even more, especially paired with a winged liner. Furthering my lip collection (despite the fact they're the thing I tend to forget about most in the morning), I got this Matte Lip Color in Rich Red. It looks like a big pencil, but goes on pretty much like a lipstick. I swatched it on my hand and, sadly, it's more pinky than the packaging makes it look but I'm going to try it out tomorrow see how it wears.

Get ready for some sparkle!

The other e.l.f. product I got was an impulse based on a high end product that just came out. Both Kandee Johnson and another blog have been talking about Urban Decay's Heavy Metal Glitter Liner. Kandee even used it in one of her more recent tutorials. Not having the money to shell out for UD stuff, though, I resigned myself to glitterless lids. But then I saw that e.l.f. has a gold sparkly version of their liquid liner that I use in black all the time. At only $1, you can bet that baby ended up in my basket. I'm probably going to try this out tomorrow as well.

Pile of delicious, delicious tea.

As if all this goodness from Target wasn't enough, I got my order of tea from Adagio today. I cannot say enough good things about them. The tea is reasonably priced, it's delicious, they have an amazing selection, and the shipping is inexpensive and quick. I ordered tea on Tuesday after business hours and got it today. That's a three day turn around. Amazing. And look how much stuff I got! I have 3oz each of pumpkin spice and coconut, the first which I'm super excited to try and the latter which I know is delicious because I got a sample of it with my last order. Then I got two 0.8oz samples through various promotions, one is decaf tropics and the other is thai chai. I wanted to try both of these, but didn't want to buy a whole bunch in case I didn't like them. And as if that wasn't enough, they also threw in a one tea bag of English breakfast, which I am delighted to get a chance to try. I also ordered another set of three tins as I needed somewhere to put all this tea since I haven't quite polished off all the tea from last time. I figure having a couple extra tins (for now) isn't a bad thing either. As I find my favorite teas, I'll probably get to the point where I have six different ones at a time.

I did some additional shopping today, too, though overall it wasn't as exciting as yesterday's. I did get a deal on my Neutrogina Naturals Night Cream and I found some really fun, feathery false lashes for Halloween. I also picked up some more fabric for the piggy boys and got the things to make this awesome tote. Whether or not I actually get around to making it is another story.

In other news, I cut my hair and re-dyed it. But that's a post for another day. :)

Goodbye!

New Nightstand: Dumpster Find #2

Several years ago I rescued a very sad piece of Ikea-like furniture from the dumpster at Yale during move-out. It became my nightstand for my senior year and ever since them. It has always been quite wobbly and one of the shelves was put in upside-down. I'd been thinking recently that it might be time for me to be an adult and actually purchase a real nightstand when, on Wednesday, someone left a nice, black side table by the dumpster. I scooped it up and brought it inside. It was a little dusty and well loved, but it was in sturdy condition and is SO much nicer than my old one.

Pluto and the coconut pet say hi. :)

On my nightstand is my lamp that Mum and Sir bought me freshman year (it's seen better days), my glasses case, a fan from my wedding, tissues, and a tiny candle from Bath and Body Works in a no-longer-available coconuty scent. In addition, there are my three nighttime beauty essentials: Queen Helene Cocoa Butter, Warm Vanilla Body Cream, Carmex Lip Balm. I always use the lip balm and one of the lotions before I go to bed every night. I'm using underneath to store all my DIY supplies- empty jars, cardboard tubs, coconut oil, and the like. It may not look like much, but I'm ridiculously excited about it.