Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Makeup Organization

scratch n stef
organize your bathroomClean, organized spaces make me happy, and less stressed. This is especially true of my makeup area. I used to keep all of my makeup in a bag -- it was cluttered, dirty, and just a mess. Now, I have a tumbler for my brushes, and this handy little countertop drawer. It's SO much better!

makeup organizationMy clear little Sterilite container is organized by the items I use most often, and how they are packaged. In my top drawer I keep my foundation, bronzer, blush, and eyeshadows. Clearly, I'm a Bare Minerals kind of girl. I'll post more about that another time. In the middle drawer I keep my tubes like lipstick, lip pencils and concealers. And in the last drawer I store my lip balms, tweezers, nail clippers, and any other miscellaneous items. In my tumbler I keep the tall items like brushes, lip liner, eyeliner, and mascara.

makeup organization
The first step of organization is to de-clutter. Do you have makeup you haven't worn in a year? Throw it out. It's taking up unnecessary space and you don't need it. Why are you making things more complicated than they need to be? Simplify your routine by minimizing the amount of makeup you wear. Less is more, ladies. For easy days I only use BB cream and eyeliner (Smashbox Camera Ready is superb and provides awesome coverage and Covergirl Liquiline Blast is inexpensive and goes on super smooth). And give your face a break, go natural every once in a while!

Monday, September 30, 2013

BOOK REVIEW: A Thousand Splendid Suns

Khaled HosseiniKhaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner, has a unique way of turning fiction into education. A Thousand Splendid Suns does more than tell a story of two Afghan women enduring their lives among constant war. For most American readers, it will stir up an uneasy feeling of ignorance. Life is more than the walls around you. Across oceans in different continents, there is perspective that cannot be seen sitting at home, except possibly in Hosseini's books. While A Thousand Splendid Suns doesn't reach the intensity of The Kite Runner, it's still a good read: B-

Friday, September 27, 2013

Favorite Smart Phone Apps

scratch and stef, scratchnstef
Grocery IQ, Awesome apps for your phone1. Grocery IQ. The days of hand-written grocery lists are gone. Embrace technology and reduce, reuse, recycle. Share the app with other users to add to the list, get coupons, and have a list of favorite items to easily add on for future lists.
Retail-me-not, awesome apps for your smart phone
2. Retail Me Not. Coupons, coupons, coupons! Spend less, shop more. Look up specific stores and find coupons and special deals for the day. Big stores like Macy's, Hobby Lobby, and Banana Republic are a few good finds. Get both in-store and online deals.

My Fitness Pal, iPhone apps3. My Fitness Pal. Track your calories, calculate calories burned through exercise, and keep up with your fitness goals. You can also connect with friends to help motivate each other. Great for keeping yourself accountable!

smart phone apps, Pinterest for smart phonesSprinkles cupcakes, Amazing iPhone apps4. Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter. What's not to love about social media apps? Pinterest is my personal fave, followed by Instagram. Twitter is a great place to catch up on the news, as long as you follow reputable sources. ;)

Just for fun.
5. Sprinkles. I love Sprinkles cupcakes and the app is just too much fun. I usually only use it to play the memory-like match game which is surprisingly challenging. If you've got some extra time on your hands, treat yourself to some fun. And maybe a cupcake.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

As You Wish Pottery Painting

That Scratch is a good sport when it comes to trying new things. Phoenix has a little place called, As You Wish, where you can pick a piece of pottery and get your art on. I'd been wanting to try it out for a while and convinced Mr. Young to come along. Now, it's not exactly a "cheap date" but it's good for getting out of the house and trying something new.
Scratch picked a planter pot, and I chose a mug large enough for a hearty helping of my favorite hot cocoa. It was difficult to make a selection -- there's so much to choose from! The little helpers told us all we needed to know about our unlimited paints to choose from, where to find the brushes, and we got to work. Don't be embarrassed if a child out-paints you. It's not about skill here. Spend as long as you need to paint, then hand off your work to be fired and pick it up a few days later. Voila! Homemade art.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

The Power of Google: A List of Questions to Never Ask

scratch 'n' stef scratchnstef
Have you ever been Google slapped? The Power of Google can hurt. It's a sharp pain to any ego and a great lesson in humility. I don't like to see people in pain, but sometimes it's for their own good. Close friends will often Google slap each other, but sometimes co-workers and family members are shy to inflict pain. Here's a list of questions you no longer need to ask ANYONE, EVER:

Please STOP annoying your family and co-workers. ALL of these questions can easily be answered through the Power of Google. Yes, it's true, with so many answers available online, why even talk to anyone? Precisely my point.

Beyond simple question answering, Google can provide so much more. More on that another time.