My First Cut Crease

Part of being obsessed interested in makeup means constantly trying to challenge yourself and improve your skill. I had used much of the same techniques for 95% of my life. It wasn't until recently that I found the thrill of challenging myself to try new things. 

I find inspiration on youtube, pinterest, and instagram. There are two ladies that live near me, @jemapellebree and @janeenersss on instagram (seriously- check them out) that always created such beautifully blended perfect cut creases. Seeing their work and knowing they were self-taught gave me the inspiration to attempt a cut crease myself.

For my first time trying something I was pretty pleased with the results. I have a LOT of room for improvement! But I've got to say, I am still happy with how it came out. 

All constructive criticism is appreciated! However if you don't have anything nice or constructive to say, then keep it to yourself. Don't have time for any hate!

For the sake of full transparency, I must say that some of these pictures have been edited by way of attempting to color correct. These pictures were taken on my cell phone so the quality and color were not great. I did the best I could to correct. 

Fall Fashion Wishlist

It's funny being a part of the blogging world. Bloggers need to be one step ahead and talk about trends in advance so they always post about the upcoming seasonal trends.

However when you live in Florida it's hard to get excited about fall (my favorite season) when it is still 85 degrees out every day! Here we are finally at the end of October experiencing SOME cooler temperatures and I am ready to talk about fall! ....Just in time to realize that most blogs have already moved on to winter! 

E.l.f. Little black beauty book (cool edition) swatches & review: Is it worthy of being Holy Grail?

Let me start off by saying I'm a fan of Elf cosmetics in general. While a lot of their inventory is hit or miss, it is so cheap that you can afford some trial and error.

So when I saw the Elf little black beauty book -cool edition- at my local target for only $6, there was no way I was passing it up.

Now, I'm ever so glad that I snatched it up! There is such a wide range of colors, they are pretty pigmented, and the price cannot be beat.

Could the formula use some work? Yes. But I am pretty sure that these are some of  the best drug store eyeshadows I have ever encountered. What they lack in formula they make up for in pigmentation and color range. There is a mix of both matte and shimmer finishes. As is expected, the shimmer shades are much easier to work with than the matte shades, as you will see in the swatches. 

See swatches and my full review after the jump- 

YALLFest author spotlight: Lisi Harrison

YALLFest is one of the only book festivals focused entirely on Young Adults. It's held in Charleston, South Carolina and this year it starts November 9th. The best part is, it's mostly free! The only thing that cost money are the ticketed events- the keynote conversation and the closing YA smackdown. All signings are free!

I really wanted to go this year! This year's lineup includes 50 young adult authors, including 25 New York Times Bestsellers. That's a pretty impressive lineup! Unfortunately, I don't have the money to go this year, but am definitely planning on going in the near future. If you love to read, live in the South Carolina area (I live in Florida and would DEFINITELY make the drive!)  I absolutely recommend going to this.

Lisi Harrison is a very successful YA author. She wrote The Clique series and the Monster High books for Mattel. 

Personally I read the first few clique series books when they first came out. I eventually outgrew them and didn't keep up with the ever-growing series but I did like them when I was in middle school. 

What one thing do you need to have when you write?

A scented candle. Each book has it’s own scent.

Describe your book in 5 words

Popular freshmen’s secret journals revealed.

What is the hardest line to write- the first or the last?

First. 100%

Best writing tip you ever received?

Stop writing in the middle of a chapter instead of the end. It will be easier to start up again the next day.

What one young adult novel do you wish you had when you were a teen? Why?

Stargirl.

Tell us 5 random facts about yourself.

I can’t run.

I have a tattoo with a type-o. It’s supposed to say, “creativity” but it says, “dry.”

In college I thought it would be cool to get a tattoo written in Chinese characters.

I was supposed to be on one of the planes that crashed into the World Trade Center. I changed my 

reservation at the last minute. Now every time I look at a clock it says 9:11.

I can’t stand being asked about my “favorites.” I don’t have favorites. If I did I’d forget what they are 

the minute you asked and would remember them the minute you leave. It’s maddening.

I prefer to give 6 random facts. 

Where's your favorite place to write?

My office.

What are you working on now?

Pretenders #2: License To Spill.

What is your favorite genre to write in? To Read?

What did I just tell you about “favorites?”

At what point in the development of an idea do you know that it will become a full-length novel?

When I can describe it in one sentence. And do it without cringing.

If I were you I'd definitely check her out at this years YALLFest!

To catch up on other authors in this series :

Cinda Williams Chima can be found here

Lauren Oliver can be found here

CJ Lyons can be found here

Sean Williams can be found here:

Rainbow Rowell can be found here

Ransom Riggs can be found here 

Veronica Rossi can be found here

Kami Garcia can be found here
Melissa de la Cruz can be found here
Shannon Hale can be found here


Now follow your bliss,
Ember Darling

MoYou London- the Festive collection stamping plates!

I literally can't get paid fast enough to keep up with the MoYou London plates.

MoYou London have always impressed me with their original, adorable plates but with this collection they've truly outdone themselves!!

September in photos

OK let's get real I am terrible at keeping a schedule. Whatever. Here's what I was up to in September!

YALLFest author spotlight: Shannon Hale

:YALLFest is one of the only book festivals focused entirely on Young Adults. It's held in Charleston, South Carolina and this year it starts November 9th. The best part is, it's mostly free! The only thing that cost money are the ticketed events- the keynote conversation and the closing YA smackdown. All signings are free!

I really wanted to go this year! This year's lineup includes 50 young adult authors, including 25 New York Times Bestsellers. That's a pretty impressive lineup! Unfortunately, I don't have the money to go this year, but am definitely planning on going in the near future. If you love to read, live in the South Carolina area (I live in Florida and would DEFINITELY make the drive!)  I absolutely recommend going to this.

Shannon Hale is the author of over a dozen YA books, adult books, and graphic novels. 

She'll be at this year's YALLFest so be sure to check her out!

Describe your book in 5 words

 Boarding school for children of famous fairytales

Best writing tip you ever received?

 People remember a story for its characters.

What one young adult novel do you wish you had when you were a teen? Why?

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart. It’s smart, engaging, and discusses so many things I was struggling with.

Tell us 5 random facts about yourself.

 I have 4 kids (including identical girl toddler twins). My husband likes to wear masks and hide around the house to scare me. I like to read while lying on my belly. I love the sky. I’m not a very good speller.

What are you working on now?

The third Princess Academy book.

Don't forget you can find the other authors in this series below!:

Cinda Williams Chima can be found here

Lauren Oliver can be found here

CJ Lyons can be found here

Sean Williams can be found here:

Rainbow Rowell can be found here

Ransom Riggs can be found here 

Veronica Rossi can be found here

Kami Garcia can be found here
Melissa de la Cruz can be found here 

Check back Friday for another great author interview!

Follow your bliss,

Ember Darling

September Ipsy glambag: Classic beauty

{I know this is SO overdue! Where has the time gone?! I got this bag late & then was very busy so bear with me!}

September's Ipsy glambag theme was classic beauty. I'm not quite sure how these products play into that, but nevertheless.  

I also wanted to put off writing this because honestly, I didn't know how I felt about it. On one hand, I was disappointed. Not that the products I got were bad- they aren't. But because I was hoping so much I would get the Jesse's Girl liquid eyeliner along with the Butter london nail polish. I know I probably didn't get the Butter London because I got the Urban Decay lipstick last month. It's only fair.  But I WAS hoping for the liquid liner. 

All in all this month's just feels...uneventful. The products are not great, not bad. I'll use pretty much all of them. I got my money's worth. It's just nothing to write home about, ya feel me?

But alas I will go through each item with you. Mostly because while looking through blog posts last month I found that I think most subscribers got very different bags. So in that regard, I'm intrigued if not impressed.

September Ipsy glambag

This month's bag was a cobalt blue with black design that resembled lace. It's a little bright but I do like the pattern. 

Find out the contents after the jump!

Inner Beauty Friday: Don't care

{I felt like since I've been using the YALLFest interviews as Inner Beauty Fridays, and I am quite behind on my other posts, I really needed to post a true blue Inner Beauty Friday}

Now, don't let the title fool you.

I care.

I care a lot.

But I try to care about the right things.

Since getting into beauty blogging I have noticed there are a  lot of women who are insecure. They may judge others because they fear that they are also being judged. They feel like they HAVE to do certain things or else their manicures aren't good enough, or if their makeup isn't perfect it's not blog-worthy.

I can tell you right now that I am the opposite of that.

I can also tell you that, because of that, I am happier.

Sure it's good to be proud of what you can do. I can even understand striving for perfection. 

But for christ sake stop putting yourself down when you don't achieve the impossible perfection!!

I promise you once you begin to believe that you are awesome and rocking it no matter WHAT, you will always feel like you are awesome and rocking it.

I would never post my pictures on the web if I thought "oh no, are my cuticles good enough?! Is my eyeshadow blended enough?!" It's easy to get hung up on insecurities. Don't let your insecurities win.

I aim to show that I'm just an average girl. I don't obsess over every detail. I don't put hours of effort into my looks. And HEY, I still look okay! Better than okay, actually.

I urge everyone to not sweat the small stuff. That takes time and effort out of truly enjoying yourself  and being proud of your efforts.

Follow your bliss,

Ember Darling

P.s. my September Ipsy bag review is COMING this weekend. I am so behind it's not even funny! Ah, well. I'll try and play catch up this weekend :) Have a fabulous weekend, dolls! Don't do anything I wouldn't do ;)    [that shouldn't be hard. There's not much I wouldn't do]

YALLFest author spotlight: Melissa de la Cruz

:YALLFest is one of the only book festivals focused entirely on Young Adults. It's held in Charleston, South Carolina and this year it starts November 9th. The best part is, it's mostly free! The only thing that cost money are the ticketed events- the keynote conversation and the closing YA smackdown. All signings are free!

I really wanted to go this year! This year's lineup includes 50 young adult authors, including 25 New York Times Bestsellers. That's a pretty impressive lineup! Unfortunately, I don't have the money to go this year, but am definitely planning on going in the near future. If you love to read, live in the South Carolina area (I live in Florida and would DEFINITELY make the drive!)  I absolutely recommend going to this.

photo courtesy of melissa-delacruz.com

Melissa de la Cruz is a New York Times best seller who has a couple of different YA series. I first heard of her through her series, Au Pairs. 

I'm really excited for her because her book Witches of East End is being turned into a show on Lifetime! Before I knew I was hosting this interview, I was watching Hocus Pocus on Lifetime (can I get a hell yeah!) and saw a commercial for the series and instantly wanted to watch it! Upon learning that it was adapted from one of Melissa de la Cruz's books, I got even more interested!

Witches of East End premiers on Lifetime on Sunday 10/6 at 10/9c! I know I am going to record it and watch it as soon as I can! 

Now, on to the best part! the interview!

What one thing do you need to have when you write?
Fear. Sometimes rage. I find that to truly focus I need to feel panic, and then suddenly everything in my manuscript becomes clear. I work best under duress, which is something my editors have learned and they're quite good at instilling fear in me. I appreciate that! I also work well with many distractions, I think it's because I had a day job for nine years and had to write my books in the middle of doing my real work.

Describe your book in 5 words
Post-apocalyptic. Zombie. Dragon. Pirate. Fantasy.

What is the hardest line to write- the first or the last?
The first, definitely. 

Best writing tip you ever received?
To introduce the love interest in the first 30 pages, not that specifically but learning that there was CRAFTING involved in writing a novel, not just voice.

What one young adult novel you wish you had when you were a teen? Why?
Harry Potter. Because! I don't think I have to explain.

Tell us 5 random facts about yourself.
1. I was a child model.
2. My favorite One Direction guy was Harry, but now it is Louis.
3. I have a Maltese named Mimi. She is not named for Mimi Force, our kid named her.
4. I learned to drive at 34.
5. I like savory treats better than sweet.

Where's your favorite place to write?
In a cubicle, surrounded by softly ringing phones and people murmuring. Sadly this is no longer possible for me.

What are you working on now?
My new series THE RING AND THE CROWN coming next spring from Disney-Hyperion.

What is your favorite genre to write in? To Read?
YA Fantasy and Paranormal. My favorite genre to read is "literary" fiction, but I would have to say I really enjoy bestsellers just as much, I like popular fiction, no matter what genre, I like to read what a lot of people are reading and take the pulse of the culture. But for my own taste, I love smart angry women writers like Lionel Shriver and Kate Christensen. Also cookbook memoirs.

At what point in the development of an idea do you know that it will become a full-length novel?
When we've sold it!

Be sure to check out Melissa de la Cruz at this years YALLFest! 

to review who else I've hosted interviews for you can refresh:

Cinda Williams Chima can be found here

Lauren Oliver can be found here

CJ Lyons can be found here

Sean Williams can be found here:

Rainbow Rowell can be found here

Ransom Riggs can be found here 

Veronica Rossi can be found here

Kami Garcia can be found here

MoYou London Mother Nature Stamping plates

MoYou London is a nail art company based out of, you guessed it, London. I saw their stamping plates on a blog and immediately fell in love. 

Since my last post about them I received half of my order. I wrote them an email inquiring about the missing plates. They were prompt, polite, and informative. There was a delay on the pre-order, and they announced on Facebook that they would be including a free gift with the orders that were delayed. I think that's a nice touch and  a great remedy to what could have been a potential problem.

Of course it would be nice to have a flawless experience, but I think the way a company handles a problem shows a lot more about them. For that reason, I am happy to continue supporting MoYou and recommending them to my friends and readers.

Without further ado I present to you the new Mother Nature Stamping Plate collection!

This collection is dedicated to Joey Helland, who suggested the theme to MoYou and they used her ideas!

See the plates after the jump!

YALLFest author spotlight: Kami Garcia

YALLFest series intro!

:YALLFest is one of the only book festivals focused entirely on Young Adults. It's held in Charleston, South Carolina and this year it starts November 9th. The best part is, it's mostly free! The only thing that cost money are the ticketed events- the keynote conversation and the closing YA smackdown. All signings are free!

I really wanted to go this year! This year's lineup includes 50 young adult authors, including 25 New York Times Bestsellers. That's a pretty impressive lineup! Unfortunately, I don't have the money to go this year, but am definitely planning on going in the near future. If you love to read, live in the South Carolina area (I live in Florida and would DEFINITELY make the drive!)  I absolutely recommend going to this.

I'm very honored to host the interview with international best seller Kami Garcia today. You might know Kami because she is one of the co-authors of the beautiful creatures series which was, of course, turned into a movie. Her new book that is the start of a new series, the legion, comes out TODAY! Woo!

What one thing do you need to have when you write?

I need three things: my laptop, my headphones, and Diet Coke.

Describe your book in 5 words:

Paranormal. Ghost-hunting. Intense. Romance. Secret Societies.

Tell us 5 random facts about yourself.

1. I don’t know how to ride a bike.

 2. I used to be an artist (a painter). 

3. I won’t fly without my huge charm necklace that I believe will keep the plane from crashing. 

4. I believe in ghosts.

 5. Every time I write a book, I worry that everyone will hate it.

What are you working on now?

I am working on the second book in the Legion Series, the sequel to Unbreakable. Like Unbreakable, the 

sequel is very intense and has plenty of paranormal elements. But I think it’s even more romantic and surprising than the first book.

What is your favorite genre to write in? To Read?

My favorite genre to write is definitely urban fantasy/paranormal romance. I love to read paranormal, but I am also a huge fan of horror, crime fiction, high fantasy, and science fiction.

Be sure to check out Kami Garcia's new series, the first book came out today!

To catch up on the other authors in this series, check them out~

Cinda Williams Chima can be found here

Lauren Oliver can be found here
CJ Lyons can be found here
Sean Williams can be found here:
Rainbow Rowell can be found here
Ransom Riggs can be found here 
Veronica Rossi can be found here

Follow your bliss,
Ember Darling