30-Day Blog Challenge, Day 12

Day 12 - A photograph of the town you live in.

 

 

Not telling ya'll exactly where this is because I don't want any stalkers. Ha ha ha.

30-Day Blog Challenge, Day 11

Day 11 -  What’s in your makeup bag?

 

 

Lots of stuff.  It’s more like a makeup drawer, to be honest!  My interest in experimenting with makeup has grown steadily over the past few months, and I’m constantly adding new products whenever I can.  I’m not going to show everything, but here are some of my most-used favorites.

 

 

Pictured are TruBlend Mineral Powder, Fresh Complexion Concealer, and TruBlend liquid foundation by CoverGirl; Blush in Tickled Pink, Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick in Movie Star, and (from the Studio line) 80-Piece Day-to-Night Eyeshadow Palette by e.l.f.; Maybelline Great Lash Mascara in Very Black; L.A. Colors eyeshadow palette (the name has worn off...I've had this for a very long time!); and BB Cream 9-in-1 Skin Perfecting Makeup and eyelash curler by Rimmel.

In case you haven't noticed, I'm an advocate of drugstore makeup.  Ha ha ha.  I do use MAC, Tarte, Too Faced, and Smashbox occasionally, though.  I just have to be careful with my college student budget!

(Note: I realized after posting this that I forgot to include my eyeliner in the photo...oops! I use NYC's liquid eyeliner or CoverGirl's Perfect Point Plus in Black, depending on what style I'm going for.)

30-Day Blog Challenge, Day 10

Day 10 – A photo of your favorite place to eat.

 

 

I love all kinds of food, so this was a very difficult question for me.  I really like Asian food, particularly Chinese and Japanese.  It finally came down to where I go the most and am never disappointed, and that is, undoubtedly, Sushi Island in Eugene, OR.

 

 

   Bento! Yummmm

 

Hungry yet? I am...

30-Day Blog Challenge, Day 9

Day 9 – A photo of the item you last purchased.

 

 

This isn’t going to be all that interesting, but I’m going to be honest here.  I did a little shopping today with friends while we wandered through Old Town Florence, and the last things that I bought were these cute khaki pants and comfy red cotton skirt from a thrift store.  Each cost a buck and a half.  Talk about a deal.

 

30-Day Blog Challenge, Day 8

Day 8 – A song and photo to match your mood.

 

 

If any of you are following me on Twitter, you’d know that lately I’ve been in a wonderfully lively and exuberant mood, because… I COMPLETED MY FINALS!  I submitted my last two assignments just a few minutes ago, and I am ecstatic to be done.  I love school, I’ve said this many times, but I am looking forward to a good long break.  Summer, here I come!

 

The first song that came to my mind is “Go the Distance” from Disney’s Hercules.  Here's a lyric video:

 

 

 

Fitting, isn't it?  Ha ha ha.  I'm not a fan of the movie, but this song is beautiful.  On that note, I’ve been listening to loads of Disney music lately.  The Lion King, Mulan, Tarzan, Brother Bear, and Tangled soundtracks…I just love them all!

 

 

As for a photo, how about this one?

 

 

30-Day Blog Challenge, Day 7

Day 7 – Your dream wedding.

 

 

I have a wedding inspiration board on my Pinterest that you all can view, if you like, but I'll share a few photos here.

My dream wedding would take place in the late summer, almost fall, when the weather is warm but not hot, and autumn’s breeze has already entered the air.  Of course, the wedding will be at my current parish church.

 

 

I have two basic designs in mind for my dress:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, my fellow LotR nerds, the one on the right is a replica of Lady Galadriel's dress from The Hobbit.

 

 

And the shoes:

 

 

(I really like these shoes, but if I end up going for the Galadriel dress, I will probably wear violet flats instead.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And for the bridesmaids:

 

 

 

 

We will be wearing jackets with the strapless dresses; white for me and black for the bridesmaids.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The wedding colors are purple and silver:

 

 

 

 

♫ Here comes the bride

Look at her stride

She smiles wide

As her poor daddy cried. ♪

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did someone say cake?

 

 

 

Check out my Pinterest board for more, including photography ideas and tons more purple stuff! ...And a note: Of course, these are all just ideas, and are subject to change. :-)

30-Day Blog Challenge, Day 6

Day 6 – A photo of an animal you’d like to keep as a pet.

 

 

This  one was pretty easy for me.  Obviously, I’d want an Eevee as a pet.

 

 

 

So cute and fluffy! ♥

 

...Hey, the question doesn’t specify that my choice had to be a “real” animal. :o)

30-Day Blog Challenge, Day 5

Day 5 – A photo of yourself two years ago.

 

 

 

 

Yup.  It’s-a-me, a little over two years ago.  This is one of my senior photos.  I don’t look all that different…I guess I’ve thinned out, especially my face, but that’s about it. *shrugs*

30-Day Blog Challenge, Day 4

Day 4 – Your favorite photograph of your best friend.

 

 

 

 

My best friend is my sister Stephanie.  I am so blessed to have someone like her in my life.  Love you, Stephie! This photo was taken in July of last year.

30-Day Blog Challenge, Day 3

Day 3 – Your favorite store.

 

 

I’m going to separate this answer into two categories: online, and…not online. Haha.  Tangible?  Local/chain store?  I don’t know.  You get the idea.

 

So my favorite online store is without a doubt Etsy.  Everything that is sold on this website (with the exclusion of supplies and vintage items) is handmade by people all over the world, and the sense of creativity and uniqueness that comes with each item I purchase just makes me feel extra special when shopping.  I really like to buy things that I can’t get anywhere else, you know?

 

Here are just some of the things that I’ve bought on Etsy:

 

 

 

For my favorite non-online store, I’d have to say Target, because whenever I go out to shop I always end up there, and always end up spending the most money there.  I buy all of my makeup and skin care products at Target, and I like the clothing styles and shoe selection that they offer as well.  Anybody who knows me well knows that I love to hunt for bargains and thrift shop, so Goodwill would be a close second.  It’s like opening a treasure chest for the first time in a Zelda game…you really don’t know what you’ll find, but you know that it’ll be awesome.  And again, a lot of times I’ll find things that just can’t be found anywhere else, for only a few dollars at that!

30-Day Blog Challenge, Day 2

Day 2 - A photo of something you ate today.

I had the honor of attending the Oregon Right to Life Conference in Portland again this year, and I had a fantastic time.  I feel so inspired and empowered, as I usually do after attending such events.  If any of you would like me to share more details about the event and would like to see photos, let me know. 

All I can say to all of you pro-lifers out there is this: keep up the fight, and keep praying!  We are winning this war.  The pro-abortionists are desperate, and it’s obvious that they know that they are losing.  This generation is the one that will abolish abortion.  In the words of speaker Bryan Kemper, "I survived Roe vs. Wade, but Roe vs. Wade will not survive me."  Victory won’t come without Our Lord Jesus Christ.

A luncheon was included as part of the event, and the photo to the left is of my entrée plate.  I have to say that the food was the best that it’s been in the three years that I’ve been there.

30-Day Blog Challenge, Day 1

So, quite simply, I've decided to do THIS 30-day blog challenge!  I'll try to keep the posts pretty short and simple without blabbing too much.  Yeah, Ashley, good luck with that one.  Anyway, here it goes...

Day 1 - A photo of yourself and a description of how your day was.


I had a pretty great day, actually.  I got to sleep in, which is always nice.  I made myself a delicious bowl of ramen with green onions and eggs for brunch, and worked on the writing part of upcoming photo review.  After that, I went to the local Starbucks café with my writing partner, Katie.  It’s been far too long since I’ve written anything good, and even longer since I’ve had my Tall White Chocolate Mocha.

I got a good amount of stuff done, including kicking off my latest poetry project: compiling an anthology of some of my best poetry of the past five years.  I’m excited about this because I have hundreds of poems, and I think that I could go for getting an anthology published.  Wish me luck!

After Starbucks, we hit up Target.  The main thing that I was looking for was eyeshadow, as I’m trying to expand my repertoire beyond browns and neutrals.  I ended up purchasing this palette from e.l.f., the e.l.f. Studio Day-To-Night 80 Eyeshadow Palettes (there are two in the package, but in the photo you can only see one of them).  It was only $10!  Despite loving the brand, I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical.  After trying out some of the shadows, however, I was pretty happy with this purchase.  I recommend it!

My day ended with a cozy evening composed of mugs of hot cocoa and browsing Netflix with Stephie (my sister and best friend, for those who don’t know).  Oh, and a few rounds of Super Smash Bros. Brawl with my brothers.

 

This is an example of one of my better days, to say the very least!

Random Randomness 4/9/2013

Hey there!  Long time no see!  Um…AHEM, yes, I do realize that I promised that I would be blogging weekly despite it being Lent, and…I failed miserably.  Not one post for the month of March.  To be quite honest, the blog was the last thing on my mind.  Schoolwork piled up, I resumed working as a teacher’s assistant, and I had an extra choir practice every week…etc.

That aside, I am BACK!  Today I’m going to keep it simple and share some of my latest randomness.

To start off, Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph.  I freaking adore this movie.  I saw it twice in theaters, and have seen it several times since buying the DVD.  I just can’t get bored of it.  As I said in my latest deviantART (which is sorely lacking updates as well…) journal, it warms my gamer’s heart!

Here’s the trailer if you haven’t seen it yet:

[Wreck-It Ralph Theatrical Trailer]

 

 

Secondly, I’d like to share some music that I’ve been enjoying as of late.  Music was one of the things that I gave up for Lent, and since Easter I’ve been buying song after song after song.  I’ve developed an interest for “songmatching”, that is, trying to find songs that remind me of favorite characters or ships.  Namely ZeLink and SasuSaku (speaking of Naruto…what the HECKENSTEIN is going on around here?!?! …But this is a topic for another day...)  Here is my top twenty for the week (not in any particular order!):

 

 

My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark – Fall Out Boy

Never Be the Same – Red

May I – Trading Yesterday

Alive – Adelitas Way

Bright Lights (Fly) – Alex Goot

You Are – Colton Dixon

Anywhere But Here - SafetySuit

My Home – Thousand Foot Krutch

Just Give Me a Reason – P!nk ft. Nate Ruess

Be Your Everything – Boys Like Girls

Your Heart is a Muscle – Carly Rae Jepsen

Start Again – Red

Time After Time – Quietdrive

Leave Out All the Rest ­­- Linkin Park

Misty Mountains Cold – Peter Hollens ft. Jun Sung Ahn (Peter lives in my city--check him out...he is AMAZING!)

Caravanserai – Loreena McKennitt

Song of the Caged Bird – Lindsey Stirling

When Can I See You Again – Owl City

Your Guardian Angel – The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

Collide – Howie Day


Finally, let me say that I CAN’T WAIT FOR THE SUMMER.  I was considering taking classes during the summer, but my interest in that idea quickly dissipated.  I don’t need a break, but I sure do want one.  My art has suffered enough due to me devoting so much time to school.  Don’t get me wrong, I love school!  Really!  I’m one of those academic weirdos who looks forward to new discussion topics and truly believes that there is nothing more fun that writing an essay.  What can I say?  I’m a nerd in every respect.

I have so many ideas for art and stories that I can’t wait to get to working on.  As I've said, my deviantART and Figment have been especially quiet as of late, and I miss interacting with my artist and author buddies.  Plus, I’ll have time to apply for scholarships and save up money so that going back to school in the fall won’t be a pain in the neck like last year.  I’ve also been asked to be a counselor at a local girls’ camp again, so that will be a lot of fun.  And!  I’m going to Cali this summer.  So excited to visit family and go to Disneyland again!

I also have a lot of cool things coming up in regards to my humble little blog here, including photo reviews for some things that I am SUPER EXCITED about.  If you’ve been keeping up with me on Twitter you might know what I’m talking about!  Also, with summer coming around, I’m trying to get back to my Etsy shop, which I have not abandoned!


If you like what you’ve read here, be sure to follow me! Aianarie @Twitter


‘Til the next post!