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The Journey Begins

Thanks for joining me on this new adventure in my life. This blog is dedicated to my random adventures, makeup reviews and looks, and books that I love and recommend.

“She was beautiful, but not like those girls in the magazines. She was beautiful, for the way she thought. She was beautiful, for the sparkle in her eyes when she talked about something she loved. She was beautiful, for her ability to make other people smile, even if she was sad. No, she wasn’t beautiful for something as temporary as her looks. She was beautiful, deep down to her soul. She is beautiful.”

Books to Read During COVID-19 Lockdowns and Quarantines

Hello fellow lockdowners! So I have decided to make a list of some great books to read during this pandemic. Included are book lengths and authors.

These are some of the books that I have read and enjoyed over the past two years. They are organized by genre so you don’t have to be searching for whatever book might suit your fancy 🙂

Sci-Fi

Hyperion by Dan Simmons. 482 pages

The Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmons. 517 pages

Endymion by Dan Simmons. 563 pages

The Rise of Endymion by Dan Simmons. 709 pages

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch. 469 pages

Artemis by Andy Weir. 309 pages

The Martian by Andy Weir. 369 pages

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. 385 pages

Armada by Ernest Cline. 369 pages

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. 244 pages

The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams. 256 pages

Life, the Universe, and Everything by Douglas Adams. 240 pages

So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish by Douglas Adams. 224 pages

Mostly Harmless by Douglas Adams. 240 pages

i,Robot by Isaac Asimov. 253 pages

The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells. 149 pages

The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells. 287 pages

The Time Machine by H.G. Wells. 84 pages

Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne. 183 pages

1984 by George Orwell. 328 pages

Animal Farm by George Orwell. 112 pages

Fiction

The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty. 396 pages

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. 460 pages

Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty. 511 pages

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms. 314 pages

The She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell. 369 pages

Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah. 324 pages

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. 531 pages

Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed. 240 pages

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess. 176 pages

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. 277 pages

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey. 320 pages

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. 352 pages

The Atomic City Girls by Janet Beard. 384 pages

Mystery/Suspense/Thrillers

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton. 400 pages

The Lost World by Michael Crichton. 430 pages

Next by Michael Crichton. 528 pages

Sphere by Michael Crichton. 385 pages

State of Fear by Michael Crichton. 641 pages

The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton. 350 pages

Micro by Michael Crichton. 424 pages

Airframe by Michael Crichton. 352 pages

Prey by Michael Crichton. 502 pages

Dragon Teeth by Michael Crichton. 320 pages

Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton. 384 pages

Disclosure by Michael Crichton. 597 pages

Grave Descend by Michael Crichton. 168 pages

A Case of Need by Michael Crichton. 243 pages

The Shining by Stephen King. 447 pages

Doctor Sleep by Stephen King. 531 pages

Carrie by Stephen King. 199 pages

Also, for any Shakespeare fans out there, Apple Books also has pretty much the entire collection of William Shakespeare for free.

Be safe. Be healthy. Happy reading!

Key:

Free on KindleUnlimited

Free on AppleBooks

Free on KindleUnlimited and AppleBooks

An Open Letter to the Class of 2020

To the Fordham Class of 2020,

I cannot begin to describe my condolences to all of you hardworking students. You have worked diligently and passionately for the last four years, just for your last two months of school to be over before you expected. To all of you out there heartbroken and in despair, let me let you know that the entire Ramily is standing behind you.

Do not let these next few months define your college experience. It sucks. I cannot even imagine how much this must be hurting all of you, and I know that no matter what anyone says, it will not help what you are all feeling.

You are mourning the experiences that you are missing. You are mourning the rest of your Senior Nights, your Senior Week festivities, your final Spring Weekend. You are mourning the final months of good weather for dartying and going to Mugzs, Barnyard, and Howl. You are mourning the final moments with your friends that you did not know that you were going to lose a week ago. It is okay to mourn. It is okay to be angry and hurt and disappointed and scared. It is okay to want to curl up in a ball and wish that this wasn’t happening. IT IS OKAY TO FEEL; however, it is not okay to let these next few months define who you are or define your college experience. Your lives have been flipped upside-down, but do not forget the three years you had before this final semester:

You met new people. You made friends from all over the world. You may have studied abroad and learned and experienced new things you never would have guessed you would. You learned everything from how to question your own beliefs healthily, to how to practice the Jesuit values in constructive ways. You may have found a new political standpoint or a new belief system. You became adults and are being shoved into the adult world without your friends beside you for the final few months, so keep in touch with your friends. Make stupid TikToks that the rest of us “old” alumni do not understand. Create GroupMes and Facebook groups and do not let the camaraderie of your class die with the rest of the semester.

You are all going to get your diplomas and become alumni. You are all going to see your name on that (albeit very expensive piece of paper) within a few months and realize that you succeeded in ways that no other alumni class can comprehend. You will become one of the strongest classes to ever graduate from Fordham because you are experiencing a devastation that none of us could have ever anticipated. Do not let the rest of this spring semester destroy your love and pride in Fordham.

You went into college four years ago as scared and newly graduated high school students, and you will be entering the adult world just as scared, possibly even more so than the rest of us graduates. Your lives have been forever changed and do not let anyone tell you otherwise. You will survive this unbelievable setback stronger than ever. I know you will.

So go on. Continue changing the world in the ways that only Jesuit students can. Set the world on fire. The rest of the Ramily will be waiting for you on the other side with a pack of matches.

Sincerely,

Your Forever Ramily

Kylie Cosmetics Mary Jo K Lip Kit Review

Looking for that classic red lip? Want it to last all day, all night, through meals and activities? Well, Kylie Cosmetics has the perfect combination that will stay with you throughout your entire day.

I first got the Mary Jo K lip kit for Christmas my junior year of college and I have to say…it has definitely lived up to the hype. At first, $29 for a lip pencil and matte liquid lipstick sounds a bit pricey, but for what you get, it is definitely worth the investment.

The lip pencil is super easy to glide onto your lips, giving your lips a clean border. As someone with thin lips, I highly appreciate the easy to sharpen and long lasting lip pencil because it gives my lips an easy outline to follow without getting lipstick all over my face. The best part is that it doesn’t bleed- so you don’t have to worry about looking like a vampire two hours after applying.

The matte liquid lipstick is….just absolutely phenomenal. Not only is it highly pigmented and easy to apply, it doesn’t leave your lips looking dry or cracked. I found that usually red lipstick fades or starts to look messy after a while, but Mary Jo K keeps it’s pigmentation and stays in place all day long. Plus, it smells good and doesn’t have that chemically smell lipsticks usually have.

The instructions suggest using the lip pencil first and then going over your lips with the liquid lipstick. I found that this tends to keep the lipstick in place longer and the lip pencil used on your lips acts as a sort of primer and moisturizer for the liquid lip.

I use Mary Jo K for whenever I want that bold classic look, but also a lot for my dance competitions. I need a lipstick that will last through hours of stretching, drills, actual competing, drinking water, eating, and all day until awards. Not only does Kylie Cosmetics Lip Kit do this for me, but it also doesn’t crack or fade, even when my lips are chapped. Depending on how much time I have to get ready, I either use the lip liner or I don’t, and I found that the color stays all day. I may need to reapply once or twice, but usually I’m good for about 6-12 hours without reapplication. Before I put any lipstick or lipgloss on, I always prime my lips with the Lip Primer from Anastasia Beverly Hills, which creates a moisturized and evened surface on my thin and usually chapped lips.

The only negative I have about Mary Jo K is removal. I know that sounds weird, but hear me out. Everybody loves a good lip that can last the end of the world, but removing it at the end of the day can be the biggest pain in the butt. I found that if I use Tarte Micellar Magic Makeup Remover and Cleanser, then Farmacy’s Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm, I can usually get it all off. The frustration usually kicks in when I’m scrubbing it off and it gets all over my face, making me look like a vampire who just finished a hearty five course meal. Tarte’s Frxxxtion Stick is my next step and that not only clears away the lipstick, but also leaves my pores and area around my mouth smooth and clean. The best thing, I found, to use after any matte lippie, is Jeffree Star’s Velour Lip Scrub and then Chapstick, just to make sure that any and all lipstick is cleaned from my lips. By doing this, my lips are smooth, clean, moisturized, and ready for the next day.

Overall, I cannot recommend Kylie Cosmetics Mary Jo K Lip Kit enough for that classic bold red lip. The clean application, long lasting wear, sweet smell, high pigmentation, and easy application makes the difficult removal of the lipstick worthwhile. If you want that lip that will stay perfect all day, then this is something you have to have in your makeup collection.

I used Mary Jo K for my 2019 Halloween costume, and it lasted through the entire Halloween party.

Mary Jo K lasted my entire dance competition on a sunny and hot beach.

Too Faced’s Better Than Sex Mascara Review

Do you want the look of false eyelashes without the mess of glue and the weight on your eyelids? Well look no further! Too Faced’s Better Than Sex mascara will make your eyelashes look long and voluptuous in a matter of seconds.

The first time I tried the Better Than Sex mascara, I was hesisitant. I’ve been using the same mascara for years: Maybelline’s The Mega Plush Volum’Express Waterproof Mascara. I’m always up to try new makeup, but for me (who already has long eyelashes and very sensitive eyes), this mascara always got the job done and I never saw the need to try a new one. Well, after some digging and reading the reviews I thought “What the hell” and went to Sephora and purchased my first Better Than Sex bottle. When I got home and tried it for the first time, I was SHOOK.

Now I already have naturally long eyelashes, but they’re blonde so I always lean towards a black mascara that can highlight my natural lashes. Trying Better Than Sex made my eyelashes look amazing: long, healthy, voluminous, and honestly, fake. In fact, I’ve been asked multiple times by people if I was wearing falsies. This mascara is so good that for the 2019 World Irish Dancing Championships this year, I didn’t even have to put on the false lashes the rest of my team was wearing (I did anyways and my lashes were ridiculously long).

The name Better Than Sex is quite the title and a huge promise to make to its customers. I was intrigued and now I totally 100% agree that this is a mascara that lives up to all of the hype and its name.

I use this mascara nearly everyday, switching it off with Tarte’s Maneater mascara. It’s perfect for glam, casual, work, and even my no makeup days where I just want to make my eyes look more awake (aka days when I’m running errands and doing chores and already look like a hot mess at the laundromat).

The wand is phenomenally thick, which makes it perfect for coating my upper lashes completely and thoroughly. Because the wand is super plush, I found that when used on my bottom lashes, those lashes look way too big, so I only use this mascara on the top and usually Benedict’s Roller Lash or Tarte’s Maneater on the bottom. Despite this mascara being a miracle and just beautiful, I did find some problems with it.

For one, it does tend to clump and my lashes on my outer corners tend to look a little icky, but this is easily fixed with a spoolie. Second, unfortunately, it’s ridiculously hard to take off; which, in a way, is good because it does last all day, but when it’s the end of the night and you’re drunk and just want a clean face when you sleep, it can be tedious. I used Too Faced’s Melt Off mascara remover, and found that it does get some of the job done, but not completely. Thankfully, I started a new makeup remover regimen. First, I use Tarte’s Micellar Magic Makeup Remover & Cleanser to start off, and then go full scrub with Farmacy Beauty’s Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm. Both of these products remove makeup without stripping my skin of its natural oils and cells, and together, take off every single trace of makeup. INCLUDING THIS MASCARA! For the first time, I’m waking up in the morning with no raccoon eyes.

Would I recommend this mascara? HELL FRIGGIN YES! Just let me ask you one question: “Yeah sex is great, but have you ever worn Better Than Sex mascara by Too Faced?”

Too Faced’s Better Than Sex mascara (top lashes); Benefit’s Roller Lash mascara (bottom lashes)

Too Faced’s Better Than Sex mascara (top lashes); Tarte’s Maneater mascara (bottom lashes)

A different view: Too Faced’s Better Than Sex mascara (top lashes); Tarte’s Meaneater mascara (bottom lashes).

Tarte’s Brighter Days Highlighting Moisturizer Review

I recently started a new job in retail, where my appearance always has to be escalated and on point. Everyday I try a new makeup look, but most of the time I like going natural and fresh-faced, especially since I work for a company that is built on a fresh faced, beachy, New England look.

I’m always on the lookout for a new moisturizer that I can use on a daily basis or as a primer to hold my makeup throughout my day on the floor. Tarte’s Brighter Days Highlighting Moisturizer has been getting the job done for every look.

On days where I don’t want to wear makeup, this is the perfect skin brightener and moisturizer because it gives my face a natural sort of glow without having to put pounds of makeup on or any highlighter. I especially like it after washing my face at the gym, giving me a healthy not-gross looking sheen to my face.

As a primer, I have yet to find a fault with it. I’ve worn it under a variation of foundations, including Tarte’s Amazonian Clay BB Tinted Moisturizer in “Light”, Rainforest of the Sea in “12N Fair Neutral”, and Shape Tape Hydrating Foundation in “Fair Beige”; Mac’s Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 in “A18/NW30”; and Urban Decay’s Naked Skin Weightless High Definition Liquid Makeup in “2.5”. With each foundation, I found that my makeup stays in place each day and there is very little to no breaking or melting off of my foundation throughout the day. I also found that my makeup, no matter how full coverage it is, still has a dewy more natural look to it when I use the Brighter Days Highlighting Moisturizer as the primer.

Perhaps the best perk of this product is that my skin does not have that dry, raw feeling at the end of the day once my makeup comes off; it protects my skin from drying out and becoming damaged from my makeup.

Overall, I highly highly recommend this product to anyone who wants a great moisturizer that gives your skin a healthy glow or a primer that simultaneously protects your skin while holding your makeup in place, in no matter the environment.

Brighter Days Highlighting Moisturizer under Tarte’s Amazonian Clay BB Tinted Moisturizer in “Light”

Brighter Days Highlighting Moisturizer under Tarte’s Rainforest of the Sea in “12N Fair Neutral”

Brighter Days Highlighting Moisturizer under Tarte’s Shape Tape Hydrating Foundation in “Fair Beige”

Brighter Days Highlighting Moisturizer under Mac’s Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 in “A18/NW30”. Note: This was for the World Irish Dancing Championships this past April 2019, so my makeup had to be dark.

Brighter Days Highlighting Moisturizer under Urban Decay’s Naked Skin Weightless High Definition Liquid Makeup in “2.5”

Tarte Micellar Magic Makeup Remover and Cleanser Review

Tarte recently released a new makeup remover with the goal of clearing awake makeup without stripping your skin of it’s natural oils and cells. Many makeup removers are harsh and for those with dry or combination skin like myself, it can be difficult to find a healthy way of removing your makeup without causing further damage to your skin.

I have combination skin that is always either dry and oily at the same time but in different places, or just completely dry all over my face. For years, I’ve been using the same makeup remover wipes and a few months ago I found myself looking at Tarte’s Micellar Magic Makeup Remover and Cleanser. Since skincare is a big thing for me and I always do my best to keep my skin clear of acne and red spots (I’m not always successful since I have red cheeks), I decided to give this new “magical” makeup remover a spin. And let me tell you. WOW.

When I first purchased my bottle and a sleeve of cotton rounds, I was not sure what to expect. I love Tarte and I was really hoping that this product would help remove my makeup after wearing it for hours on end in the city and at work. Luckily my prayers were answered as I pressed the wet cotton round onto my face and felt it immediately remove the primer, foundation, bronzer, blush, and highlight that was sitting there for about twelve hours. I then went on throughout my face and then my eyes, removing the makeup and feeling my skin after each swipe. I had been so used to my skin feeling raw and looking redder than natural for years, that I was genuinely impressed that the water had removed the makeup which simultaneously keeping my skin intact and hydrated.

While I love this easy to use product, I do have one problem with it-it does take a lot of cotton rounds to take off my makeup. At $18, it is a great deal since it has so far lasted me two months of almost daily use, but I have gone through almost 100 cotton rounds during that time. I don’t know whether it is because I use a lot of makeup on my eyes specifically, but I have found myself using 3-6 cotton rounds on my eyes alone; however, this one setback is not enough to keep me from using this product and subsequently buying my next bottle when I have emptied this current one.

Overall, if you are looking for a natural and cruelty-free makeup remover that does it’s job without causing damage to the sensitive skin on your face, I highly recommend trying this product. You never know, you could find yourself down the Tarte rabbit hole like myself, and become a true Tartelette.