Ulta's Automatic Eye Liner

Over the past year, I've been obsessed with Ulta because it always has such great sales, even on top of the coupons. Its reward program is pretty good because at every 100 points you receive $3 off anything and since it was my birthday last week I received a full size CK One Color mascara that’s usually $18!

Anyways, today I will be reviewing Ulta’s Automatic Eyeliners. Usually it costs $8 per eyeliner but they were on sale for $2 each, so naturally I bought four eyeliners. (Sometimes the eyeliners are even $1 online!) Colored eyeliners have been very on trend for this spring and summer and I was looking for some cheap ones that I could experiment with. While Stila has a great variety of colored eyeliners, they’re around $18 each! In my honest opinion, I don’t think it’s worth spending that much money on something that’s probably going to go out of trend in the Fall and Winter. Plus, I think these Ulta eyeliners work just as well.

Swatches of Ulta's Automatic Eyeliners in Storm, Lace, Grape, and Tropics 

Storm: Grey Metallic Shimmer with flecks of Silver Glitter.

Ulta's Automatic Eyeliner in Storm

Lace: White Matte. I like white eyeliners because it makes the eye appear more open and awake. It can also provide a very mod look. 

Ulta's Automatic Eyeliner in Lace

Grape: Purple Matte. I like any subtle purple eye makeup because it definitely complements brown eyes.

Ulta's Automatic Eyeliner in Grape

Tropics: Bright Blue Metallic Shimmer with Silver Glitter

Ulta's Automatic Eyeliner in Tropics

My favorite ways to wear these eyeliners is by tracing it on top of a black cat eye and lining the inner corner/tear duct and bottom lash with the chosen color of eyeliner. Because of the heat and sweat that happens during the summer, the eyeliners give the eyes that pop of color and no eye-shadow is needed, which could potentially sweat right off the face! 

Pro: 

-Price: Definitely worth it if the liner is on sale.

-Color Payoff: The color comes off exactly as expected.

-Staying Power: The color stays on all day once it is put on.

Con: 

-Not Waterproof: The eyeliner claims to be waterproof but it doesn't work well on the waterline.

Ultimately, I recommend Ulta's Automatic Eyeliners when they go on sale because it allows for all sorts of experimentation with a variety of different colors!

 

Santa Barbara Breakwater: Let's go to the beach-each, let's go get away!

I am fortunate enough to grow up in a beach town and even attend school near(ish) a beach but I unfortunately don't get the chance to go enough. So my friend and I ventured to the Santa Barbara breakwater, which I surprisingly have never been to before even though I have been to the surrounding beaches and kayaked through it. It was such a beautiful, sunny day and there's something very soothing and calming about the beach as the waves crash onto the shore.

Look, a seal swimming by!

I will definitely miss this when I move up to foggy San Francisco for my internship in a few weeks, so I'm enjoying this amazing view while I can!

EoS Basket of Fruit Lip Balm

I was recently sent the Evolution of Smooth's Basket of Fruit Lip Balm and the packaging was so cute that I couldn't help taking pictures of them! These little babies smell so delicious and remind me of the Starbursts candy...that I can't eat, sadly. But besides the packaging and smell, they definitely do the job in moisturizing your lips. 

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston - Part Two

After visiting the Bayou Bend Collections and Gardens, I headed a few miles down the road to the actual Museum of Fine Arts. This museum is so large, with three stories filled with art and exhibits, that one could probably spend the whole day exploring it. I unfortunately only had an hour or so to explore but I still managed to see at least half of the museum!

This skull piece is actually 3D. The little figures carved or placed on the skull are references to movies/shows and American culture in general - the background is even a Pac Man game. See how many you can spot!

                                                  

This whole room fades from one color to another as one walks through it

A sphere of pots, pans, and cutlery

                                                 

                                                             Pablo Picasso

 

Yoko Ono and John Lennon 

Spinach and Beef Lasagna

This lasagna would be perfect to serve to your friends and family this Memorial Day weekend. One bite of this cheesy goodness will make you feel right at home!

This was actually the first time I have ever made lasagna by myself and, personally, it was the most delicious lasagna I have ever had. The recipe is pretty straight forward and simple, check it out below!

Cook Time: 45 minutes
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1.5 hours 

Ingredients
1 pound of ground beef or turkey (preferably lean)
1 medium onion chopped
24 oz jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce

2-4  garlic cloves, minced
Dash of salt and pepper
1 teaspoon of dried/fresh basil (optional)
1 teaspoon of dried/fresh oregano (optional)
2 cups of chopped spinach
15 oz container of ricotta cheese
2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese
9 cooked lasagna noodles

Instructions
1. Prepare lasagna noodles according to package instructions.
2. In a large skillet, cook the beef and onions until the beef is no longer brown and the onions are translucent. Drain any excess fat if necessary.
3. Stir in the spaghetti sauce, garlic, dash of salt and pepper (to taste), basil (to taste), and oregano (to taste). Bring mixture to a boil and then reduce heat to let it simmer for 10 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine spinach, ricotta, and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese (I just used a mix of shredded cheese).

5. In a 9 inch by 13 inch pan, spread a fourth of the meat sauce evenly in the baking dish. Layer with three noodles, spread another fourth of the meat sauce to the edges of the noodles, and spread 1/2 of the spinach mixture over it. Repeat the layers and finish with spreading the rest of the meat sauce over the last layer of noodles and topping it with the rest of the mozzarella cheese.

6. Cover with foil and bake at 375°F for 30 minutes. Then uncover to bake for 10-15 minutes or until bubbly. Let the lasagna cool for 10 minutes and enjoy!

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston - Part One

Back in April, while I was visiting family in Houston, I visited a part of the Museum of Fine Arts called the Bayou Bend Collections and Gardens. Although it was not yet of season for all of the beautiful flowers to be in full bloom, I still had a great time wandering through the garden and observing pretty water fountains and statutes.

This place is huge! I wish I lived here.

Oh hey, that's me and my cousin!