Sherri's Favorite Things

So, I had a bit of nostalgia today and was looking at my old posts from my first year of marriage in 2008. Oh my gosh life has changed. Have I changed? Hmmmmmm, difficult question.. Probably. I'm still slightly cynical, even tempered, working full-time, witty, and sometimes sarcastic. Otherwise I guess I am different. Marriage and motherhood does that to you.

Anyways, I found an old blog post about some of my favorite things in 2008.. and now I want to update my list. It was mostly kitchen stuff back then. So, here we go 10 years later...

Favorite Food Items:

Crystal Lite Pure Energy
Stevia-sweetened drink with caffeine. Delicious.

Kirkland brand protein bars.
It took a while to get used to the taste, but they have actual chunks of chocolate and are a good source of fiber.

Favorite Kitchen Items:

KitchenAid mixer..
You'll be my baby for always and forever.

Swissmar peeler.
This thing is CHEAP but freaking amazing.

Favorite Electronic Items:

Orbi wi-fi router
We got this for our new bigger house, but started using it already. It is wayyyy better than a wi-fi extender.

Qustodio app
It helps with internet safety on mobile devices and gives me peace of mind.

Favorite Home Items:

Ecobee Smart Thermostat
I'm so excited to use this in the new house for energy efficiency and the programmable/smart options!

Frigidaire upright deep freezer
We had to replace our old one in October, and this freezer has a ton of storage and keeps food super cold without frostbite. FYI, not my freezer. I mostly freeze my own meals and food I make, and of course the giant bags of vegetables from Costco.

Favorite Clothing Items:

Athleta hybrid tights
This are beyond comfortable and have a lot of support for my post-baby belly. I got the ankle-length tights, and guess what, they're exactly the right length for my stumpy legs.

Bandolino velvet flat wedges with bow
Again, super comfy, pointy-toe shoes with a little bit of a heel. Totally my kind of shoe.

Favorite TV Shows:

Black Mirror by Netflix/BBC
Dark, astute, relevant, creepy.. We love this show (although Season 4 was really lacking).

The Great British Baking Show by BBC
So relaxing--I love the things they bake and I love that it's not the typical ridiculous competition shows that are on Food Network.

Makeup Items:

MAC Matchmaster foundation
Nothing else compares on my face, and I mean it. I've been around, and now I've found that it's the only one for me. I've been wearing it for almost five years now.

CoverFX Highlighting palette
I couldn't pick just one eyeshadow palette, so I decided on one for my face. This thing is amazing and gives me all kind of glow.

Anyways, I thought this was kind of fun. Maybe I won't wait 10 years next time to update.

Stitch Fix Review #5

So, my theme this month was providing some extra pieces for my upcoming trip to Hawaii. I didn't want any extra clothes preparing for fall because I already have plenty (well... I could use more work pants from Banana Republic...). This is my last buying hurrah because our expenses have increased a lot over the past few months (repaying Graham's student loans, new car, and Carter's preschool). Anyways, here is the review.

Please excuse the terrible pictures (the quality and the subject: me). Seriously, I was NOT having a good day. I do not look photogenic in the slightest in these pictures, and I look about 20 pounds heaver than I actually am. Just be glad I posted these at all, ok.. I had my camera set on a timer on the desk because Graham was working. They were looking awful, so I ditched this set-up and used my iPhone for bathroom selfies.. The worst selfies of them all. Oh, and I didn't style the outfits at all. I am literally wearing workout pants on the bottom.

Papermoon Lupita Colorblocked Cross-Bank Tank: $48

The colors were really cute, and I loved the cross-back details on the shirt (which of course you can't see because of my long hair.. Sigh.). However, it was that extreme hi-lo style that I hate I'm not a huge fan of , and I'd always have to wear something under it because it's see-through. Also, the fit wasn't super flattering, and I couldn't see myself wearing it other than on vacation to Hawaii (Seattle isn't the best place for sheer, flowy tops).

Verdict: PASS

Daniel Rainn Becky Abstract Houndstooth Sleeveless Blouse: $68

I LOVE houndstooth patterned items, but this top was a complete failure from top to bottom. (I guess I should note that I liked the color and kind of distressed style.) The top was too tight in the arms/shoulders, making the shirt wayyyy too tight across the chest and pull right across my boobs. Then, it flared out at the bottom, making me look pregnant. I have stated before in previous reviews to avoid shirts that flare out at the bottom. Because I have such large shoulders and arms, anything that emphasizes that feature is NOT flattering. Lastly, it was that damn hi-lo style again! Am I the only person who doesn't want to hide my butt, or is it because I don't wear leggings with these tops and I don't need to cover up my sheer leggings with my top?? I will be updating my style profile to say NO hi-lo tops. I already have this in my style profile to remind my stylist about my larger upper body:

"No joke, I have broad shoulders, muscular arms, and a full rack of ribs. 

Beware of shirts that are tight in this region that don't have any stretch!"

I don't know what it'll take for them to listen. Just say NO to hi-lo tops, kids. And say no to acid-washed, high-waisted jeans and shorts while we're at it (anybody else disgusted by this throwback trend going on right now??). Anyways, moving on..

VERDICT: Hell nahh

En Creme Saffron Striped Beach Cover-Up Dress: $44

This was just ok. The fit was kind of boxy, and the material was super thin. It didn't feel like it would hold up past one summer season. I did like the drawstring, though.. And, I have this amazing AND flattering swim/cover-up dress from Athleta that just killed this one (picture down below), so I couldn't justify another swim dress purchase, especially when it was so inferior to the one I already have.

Verdict: PASS

Gilli Kamile Jersey Ruched Detail Dress: $64

Love Carter's naked photo bomb. That ended the photo session right there.

I really liked the fit on this dress and the option to dress it up or down. However, the army green color kind of changes, depending on the light. Graham thought it was a poopy brown. Also, it was really thin and felt cheap-o and something you could get at Target on clearance (I'm assuming that, as that's not somewhere I really shop for clothes). This dress's quality was not nice enough for $64. But, I was looking for a dress for a friend's wedding, and something light for Hawaii, so this one fit the bill. Plus, I didn't want to lose my $20 styling fee.

Verdict: KEEP

Bay to Baubles Quincy Fringe Collar Necklace: $36

When I looked at this in the box, I wasn't very impressed. It looked like a plain silver necklace. However, it looked really nice when I tried it on with the dress. I was considering buying it, but my car got broken into and I was thinking about replacing my Bluetooth for about the same cost as this necklace. So, I sent it back.

Verdict: PASS

Summary: So, this box was a little disappointing. I had a different stylist this time, so maybe that was it. They did listen to my request for some Hawaii and vacation items, but the fit of the clothing was mostly terrible. I do have an abnormal body type, though, so I can't hate on them for that. I know it's hard to find clothes for my large, broad shoulders and chest, straight waist, and smaller hips with an altogether athletic body frame. I must note that the quality of the clothes doesn't always match the price. I know they do have to make a profit somehow, but I feel like I can get much more tailored and higher quality clothes on sale at Banana Republic or Ann Taylor. It is exciting to get this package in the mail, but I don't know if I'll honestly continue doing it. Maybe I'll try it again if I'm looking for something special. If you are interested in trying this service out, please use my referral code.

Here are my previous Stitch Fix reviews:

1st Review

2nd Review

3rd Review

4th Review

And, to remind myself that I truly haven't gained 20 pounds, here's a recent selfie

Much better.

Makeup Organization Project

So, if any of you follow me on Instagram, or noticed the picture of my cute little Chevron boxes from Target, I have decided to embark on a house project: organizing my makeup.

This is my chaotic mess. It has caused some friction between Graham and me in the morning, especially when I dig through the bag and rattle everything around in the morning. It was much worse before I got the little boxes for my brushes.

 My makeup bag holds all of my daily essentials, such as mascara, concealer, bronzer, highlighter, etc. I haven't found something better to organize those things yet. As you can see, I like to do my makeup at my desk in the morning. I used to stand up and do my makeup in the bathroom, but I found it's much better doing it at my desk, much to Graham's frustration at the makeup all over it every day.

 My Urban Decay and Too Faced eyeshadow palettes. I just realized I have 2 MAC ones hidden somewhere..

My 3-drawer makeup Tupperware holder that I've had since college (?maybe). It's been working for me, but has not been very efficient. I can never find the things I need quickly, so it drives me crazy. Also, my eyeshadow drawer looked like this:

 Yikes.

So, with all of my makeup tutorial views on YouTube, I noticed that lots of the women had removed the eyeshadows from their separate pots into magnetic palettes. With Graham's permission, I purchased these Z Pro Palettes from Amazon. For reference: one of the pro palettes holds about 28 MAC eyeshadows. If you have multiple brands of eyeshadows, this is definitely a good palette to buy. You can also fit in blush and stuff, so I just may have to get another one.. If you notice below, I have multiple sizes and shapes, so it fit all of them just fine. I watched several YouTube videos on how to "de-pot" eyeshadows, with and without heat, and I got to work. This is my station at the kitchen table.

P.S. I'm not really into the zebra print, it was just the cheapest online.

I tried to remove the eyeshadows and loosen the glue without heat to no avail. So, I busted out my Bath and Body Works candle and set those babies on fire (not really, but there were definitely carcinogenic chemicals in the air).

This was a labor of love, my friends. First, you have to pry the eyeshadow out of its pot, then, you use wire cutters to snap off the plastic ends. Then, you heat up the bottom to loosen the glue. Then, I used part of nail clippers to loosen the pan from the pot. Then, I had to clean the glue off with nail polish remover and/or rubbing alcohol. Lastly, because MAC eyeshadows aren't magnetic, I had to place sticker magnets on the back and label each eyeshadow. 

This was incredibly tedious. Beyond tedious. If you know me well, you'd know I can't stand doing things by hand that require a large amount of detail work (i.e. cake pops, decorating cupcakes, doing nail polish, or any crafts in general). In college, I actually got marked down in a foodservice lab because I didn't decorate the desserts well enough and didn't clean smudges off of a plate (for reals). Cleaning off the glue off every.single.eyeshadow. was the worst part. I kept saying, kill me now. Honestly. Ugh. 

Here's the finished product. Only 3 shadows were damaged in the process, which is amazing, considering the fact that I hated every moment of this and my lack of dexterity.

Eyeshadows pictured:
Row 1 (left to right): Stila Grace, Stila Pewter, Stila Diamond Lil, MAC Pink Venus, MAC Purple Haze, Benefit Fancy Roper
Row 2: Stila Posie, Stila Azur, MAC Prose and Fancy with MAC Humid right below, MAC Passionate, MAC Li'Lily, Benefit Lazy Boy
Row 3: Stila Wisteria, Cargo Budapest below, Stila Poppy, Urban Decay Blackout in between, MAC Femme Noir, MAC Laven-dah, Benefit Working the Room
Row 4 (kinda): MAC Velvet Moss, Benefit Trust Fund Baby, MAC Shadowy Lady, and Sephora Collection white

Eyeshadows pictured (all from MAC):
Row 1: Sketch, Mythology, Expensive Pink, Espresso, Shroom, Fineshine, Electra
Row 2: Trax, Cranberry, Amber Lights, Soft Brown, Dazzlelight, Print, Greystone
Row 3: Seedy Pearl, Antiqued, Woodwinked, Ricepaper, Motif, Club, Wonder Full
Row 4: Shale, Haux, Honeylust, Tempting, Mylar, Bark, Contrast

My new eyeshadow palettes. Woo hoo!

Not pictured: 2 MAC limited edition palettes, as well as 3 MAC eyeshadows that are almost gone, and not worth the work to de-pot them (Jest, Satin Taupe and Embark).

Now, MAC has a "Back to MAC" program, that if you turn in 6 of their empty products, you can get a free lipstick. So, right now I have enough to get 6 free lipsticks. I'm not a huge lipstick wearer, as I much prefer a more natural, glossy lip, but I can manage free lipstick for sure. Anyways, if any of you plan on doing this, just be prepared. It's not for the person who's easily frustrated (i.e. me). Also, if you like eyeshadows other than MAC, just know that Stila makes it very easy to de-pot their shadows, plus they're huge and magnetic, making them really easy to put into a palette like this (and have any of you used their eyeshadow Kitten before? It's the best simple shimmery champagne color!). Another major benefit to these palettes that I can better utilize some of my ignored eyeshadows (*cough cough* green eyeshadows).

On to my next project: organizing the rest of my makeup to get rid of the hideous Tupperware beast (this is Graham's goal as well).

Fitness Goals

So, I've kind of been maintaining my current state of fitness, working out 5-6 days a week, doing Bar Method videos, Turbo Fire videos, and RIPPED workouts at the Y. It's a good mixture of cardio, HIIT workouts, light weights, and body sculpting. However, I feel like I'm not really progressing or working towards something. It's kind of stagnant. So, I decided to make some fitness goals for myself so I can at least work towards something. FYI, Blogger is totally screwing up this blog.. ARGGGGH.

Goal #1: Improve flexibility.
I know that this is a vague goal, but it's something I've realized that I need to work on. I have chronically tight shoulders, with giant knots that never go away. So, with only stretching for 5 or less minutes after my RIPPED workouts, I am not improving at all with my flexibility and range of motion, especially in my hamstrings and shoulders. With the Bar Method videos, my flexibility is tested and increased, but I don't do these videos more than 1-2 times per week. So, with my new upcoming change in my work schedule, I'll have more time in the afternoon for random things, which just may include a slight cardio warm-up and my 12-minute stretching video from Turbo Fire. I also plan on making Wednesday nights my dedicated core and Yoga night with Core 20 and Stretch 40 from Turbo Fire.
Reward: greater strength, less knots in my shoulders..?

Goal #2: More weight loss.
So, my goal for weight loss the first time around was to simply lose 25 pounds, which took me down to the "healthy" BMI range (<25 22-24="" 30="" 5-7="" a="" about="" always="" and="" appetite="" at="" been="" but="" clothes="" crap="" decreases="" diet="" doctor="" doing="" down="" eat="" even="" five="" food.="" get="" go.="" goal="" good="" have="" however="" i="" is="" lately.="" line="" ll="" loss="" m="" maybe="" me="" more="" my="" normal="" not="" now="" of="" office="" on="" p="" pounds="" right="" s="" see.="" seven="" slim="" so="" still="" stress="" stuck="" tell="" tendency="" this="" though="" to="" total.="" waist="" want="" we="" weigh="" weighed="" weight.="" weight="" where="" which="" with="" would="" you="">Reward:
More workout clothes. As I've said in the past, I'm obsessed with Athleta's workout clothing line. I want more clothes, but I don't think it's ok for me to just be buying these clothes without doing something for it. So, I decided that if I lose those 5 additional pounds, I can buy another workout outfit. This has definitely motivated me to try harder! Plus, with the stress hormones inhibiting my appetite, I just may get there sooner rather than later!

Stitch Fix Review #4

 All right folks, here comes the Stitch Fix review! It arrived around 9:30 AM today (I was actually still in bed), and I quickly ran downstairs after the FedEx guy rang my doorbell. I peeked online previously, so I knew what was coming.. Let's get to it. Warning: this was done with my nice camera, but it was self-timing, so some of the pictures and quality may be a little off. Plus, the lighting SUCKS in my house.

Here are the options.I think it's awesome that my stylist remembered that I really wanted colored skinny jeans! All in all, a nice, rounded out box of clothing.

#1: Mystree Phoebe Dot & Stripe Sweater Dress ($28)

Ok, so I looked this up online and pretty much everyone who has received this dress has hated it. I was really not excited to try this one, especially since it's a sweater dress (am I the only one who thinks they're unflattering?).. But, this wasn't as bad as everyone made it out to be. If the polka dot section was little lower on my chest, and the dress a little longer, I might've considered it for the low price. Personally, I think they lowered the price to get rid of it! Anyways, it's too short, not flattering for my midsection, with awkwardly placed dots, so I will be sending it back. I showed my husband these pictures, and he actually really liked this dress on me (surprise, surprise--it's short).
Verdict: PASS

#2 & #3: TCEC Glendale Embellished Hi-Lo tank  ($48) and Sanctuary Sarah Striped French Terry Mini Skirt ($58)

I was really exited to try on this tank because it's a fun, bright pink color! However, it is VERY sheer (like, hello, want to see what brand bra I wear?), and the hi-lo aspect of it is a little weird. But, the color is great and I love the details around the neckline.  Sorry about the awkward pose. I was trying to show just how LONG this shirt is in the back.

The skirt is comfortable as well. I was a little hesitant about it because it's described as a miniskirt (for who--models??), so I thought it'd be too short. Luckily, it's the perfect length for my little stumpy legs. Because it's terry cloth, it's super comfortable. It is black and white, though, just like the houndstooth skirt I received in Stitch Fix #2, and I have another skirt very similar to it that I love:

I get so many compliments when I wear this skirt.. But do I really need two knee-length black and white striped skirts?
Verdict:
Tank: KEEP
Skirt: UNDECIDED (help me!)

#4 & #5: Just Black Adora Skinny Jean in Army Green ($88) and Kut From The Kloth Callie Denim Jacket ($78)

 That awkward moment when you realize your pocket is sticking out when you're taking a timed photo...

So, the jacket isn't bad. It has a little stretch to it, which is nice for my beast shoulders. I even debated buying this very jean jacket from Nordstrom about a year ago! However, I decided against it because, I don't know, jean jackets were so '00's (what is that decade named, anyways?).. I had one in college from GAP, and I don't know if I'm ready to wear one again.

The skinny jeans... I just don't know. The fabric is thin, so it looks almost like leggings on me. My thighs are muscular, so I'm not a huge fan of these. The army green color.. I could do it if they looked a little bit better. And, the ultimate test.. does it look like I have mommy butt???? 

 I tried them on with knee-high wedge boots, that obviously you can't see in this photo. Dangit. Still didn't help me decide. What do you think? My husband really liked this outfit on me. He said it made me look younger..?
Verdict: Undecided (help me!)

In summary, I thought that this Stitch Fix box worked very well with my style and body type (except for the sweater dress, although it really wasn't that bad).. And I especially appreciated that they remembered my previous requests. Even though I only ended up keeping one item, I still really liked this one.

On a random side note, have any of you tried Lay's new flavors that they're testing out? I saw these advertised last year, but I wasn't able to find this one specifically in stores until now. Lay's Chicken & Waffles chips!! I was undecided after the first bite, but I kept reaching for them. They're sweet and salty with a hint of maple. Very interesting. I know I'm a Dietitian and all that, but it was fun to try these. Don't worry, I moderated my portion size..

And one more thing.. I decided to put on false lashes today because I had work off. I used Urban Decay's Naked 3 palette on my eyes with a beautiful look from Zabrena of My Eyeshadow Consultant website (or known on YouTube as macshadowcombos). If you've never heard of this website, she has made up over 1000+ eyeshadow combos using MAC, Urban Decay, Stila, etc. If you're like me and have a ton of random unused eyeshadows laying around, this is a great resource!

Is it safe to work out with false eyelashes? If not, I will find out tonight!

Here are my other Stitch Fix reviews:

1st Review

2nd Review

3rd Review

5th Review

Favorites

So, I'm a little bored, and I figured I'd blog about something random.

Anyways, I was thinking about this the other day when I got out my waffle maker on Saturday morning.. We've had it for over 6 years now, and we use it frequently, and it's still going strong. It is one of my favorite appliances, and one of my favorite wedding gifts.. So, I got to thinking about what my favorite wedding gifts were...

Favorites:
Hotel Collection bath towels from Macy's
Wusthof knives from Macy's
My Waterford china (just because it's so pretty)
Swarovski picture frame
Villaware waffle maker (which they no longer make)

Least Favorites:
Quesadilla maker (this went right back to the store)
Rice cooker (mushy, nasty rice)
Ebelskiver pan (seriously, who has the patience to make these?)

Some of my most favorite things this month:
Chocolate Chip Cheeseball from Mel's Kitchen Cafe with Nilla Wafers
Diet Dr. Pepper (always)
MAC's Prep+prime products (finally got rid of my undereye circles!)
Spigen iPhone case
My Banana Republic Sloan slim fit pants for work (I have them in a maroon color, teal, royal blue and pink, as well as tan, black and a textured navy blue. They are THE perfect fit for someone like me with no waist and no hips.)
Pride and Prejudice DVD (always a relaxing, happy movie in our house.. at least for me)
The new perfume I got (Balenciaga Rosabotanica). It is my new fave.
And, finally, the new lipstick/lipliner combo I got from Urban Decay in Native (so creamy, and such a beautiful color)

Hope you all are having a good month. So far, 2014 isn't starting off so great, but it only can get better from here, right?

Stress Shopping

Does anybody else do this? Some people binge eat, some people exercise like crazy, others drink themselves into oblivion..

But, no.. I stress shop. I can't divulge how much money I spent on stuff when Graham was gone, but it wasn't wise of me to do so. However, try telling my nerves that I don't need a pair of teal pants for work from Banana...

Anyways, Santa got me a gift card from Sephora that I just so happened to use today.. I bought an Urban Decay lipstick  in Native (because I need more makeup right?), matching lipliner, and a new perfume to try (yeah, good idea, right, since I work in a perfume-free workplace..?). With the gift card, the damage wasn't that bad, fortunately. I'll round out the night with a good workout and some fudge-covered Ritz crackers.

Everyday Girl's Guide with YouTube Tutorials of Urban Decay's Naked 3 Palette

So, I'm doing something slightly different today. I'm giving a review for the new Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette. If you're not a makeup junkie like me, you may not be familiar with the big fuss over this palette. They've previously released two hugely popular palettes, which I've purchased over the past year, and this one recently came out in November. The 1st palette was bronze neutral shades, the 2nd was taupe cool-toned neutral shades, and the 3rd features rose-gold neutral shades. I know, I know.. like I need another eyeshadow, but these looked amazing. They said these shades would like good on a fair-skinned, blue-eyed gal like myself, so I went ahead and bought it for myself for my birthday. Sure, the price may seem high, but for 12 higher-end eyeshadows, the cost for each one ends up being $4.33 per eyeshadow, which is a great price for great quality (and long lasting--I've had the original Naked palette for almost a year, and I haven't even come close to using up to half of any shadow).

Disclaimer: I am no makeup expert. I do love everything related to beauty, especially makeup. I own several brands of makeup (MAC, Stila, Nars, Urban Decay, Tarte, Fresh, Bare Minerals, Benefit, Smashbox, etc), and I tend to buy more than I actually use. I am also not a creative person, so I rely on the creativity and expertise of others to help me out. So, that's why this is a guide for the everyday makeup girl like me.

This is what the palette looks like:

(I decided to use a stock photo from Sephora because my own swatches and photos turned out badly.)
                                                     

Some of my favorite shades include:

Liar:
Beautiful mauve-gold. Blends great and looks multi-dimensional.

Darkside:
This is a great rose-y taupe color. It blends amazingly and can help make a dramatic or more everyday look.

Blackheart:
This is a dramatic black matte with red sparkle. It helps make a gorgeous smokey eye. However, you must use this with a very light hand as the pigmentation is deep and the color will be placed where you put your brush. So, be careful when you use this and be ready to blend, blend, blend!

Some of my least favorite shades include:

Burnout: 

This one was a major disappointment for me. It's a great rose-champagne shimmery color. It looks beautiful in the pan and when swatched on my skin. However, the color payoff on my eyelid was not so great. I had to really pack it on to even get close to showing up. Also, it ended up looking a little orange-y on my lid. I've been trying a million different looks with this palette (everyone else on YouTube seems to love this shadow!), and I've been getting really frustrated when I have to use this shadow.. that's how much I dislike this shadow.

Buzz:

This is another great pink-rose color with glitter. However, it's not all it seems. Not only is there fallout from the glitter, but the color payoff isn't great on the eyelid. Check out my tips below for better application and color.

Dust:
A beautiful, light pink that is packed with chunky glitter. I don't mind glitter on my eyelids if it stays there. Chunky glitter on my face? Don't like that at all.

Pros to the Naked 3 palette: 

You can easily make a beautiful and soft work-appropriate look with these shades. The looks you can make can be very feminine and pretty. In my opinion, the Naked 2 palette smokey-eye looks can sometimes end up being a little aggressive or harsh. The shadows blend well and you can easily build up the color and intensity. They have included a couple of matte shadows (nooner and limit) that really help build dimension and depth of your eyes. The colors can also be appropriate for cool or warm skin. I've seen it described as both, depending on which shadows you use.

Cons to the Naked 3 palette:

Some of the colors I listed above didn't show up well on my lid. Also, depending on what colors you use and how you blend them, the eyelid can end up looking muddy without much defined color. The rose golds may also not look great on certain skin tones.

Some tips/tools I've been using to maximize the palette:

For Dust, the most glittery eyeshadow, I use Sephora's 12-hr waterproof jumbo liner in White as a base. When I apply Dust under my brow or in the inner corner, I apply some as a base, and it really picks up and emphasizes the light pink color and helps the glitter stick to my lid and inner corner.
                                                     

Urban Decay's glittery eyeshadows often have a lot of fallout on my cheeks (I'm calling you out Sidecar, Toasted and Chopper in the Naked palettes, with Buzz and Dust from Naked 3), so I invested in a glitter eyeshadow primer from Too Faced to help them stick to my lids. I usually brush on my crease color, then apply this lightly to my lid if I'm using a glittery eyeshadow to the lid.

                                                    

I've also been trying out applying eyeshadows wet on the lid, using MAC's Fix+. I get a little eyeshadow on a flat brush, spray Fix on my hand, then I dab the brush on the liquid. Then, I apply it to my lid. I find that this helps increase the color payout with lighter colors, especially with the shade Buzz.
                                                         

The eyeliners that I am partial to with these looks include:

Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero
Bare Mineral's Round the Clock Waterproof Eyeliner in Midnight and 8 PM
MAC's Eye Pencil in Coffee
Stila's Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Black
*You can also easily use Blackheart eyeshadow as liner.
*Urban Decay also offers a double ended liner made specifically for each Naked palette in Darkside and Blackheart, but I haven't tried it.

Tutorials:

So, I've been searching out tutorials in blogs and YouTube videos, and writing down the shadows they use, where and how they apply the shadows, and their methods. I've decided to put them all in one place for easy access. Plus, there's a million of them available, and some of the tutorials online don't produce very good looks (trust me--I've tried a good number). I've also separated them by daytime and night-time looks. Just an FYI, I sometimes wear more dramatic looks for work that some people may not be comfortable wearing in the day. I am not one for the "no makeup look". I figure, why the heck am I putting on eyeshadow to make it look like I'm not wearing anything? I've also personally tested all of these looks and liked them enough to share. I've weeded through these as well, and didn't post the tutorials that had nearly identical looks. I will continue adding more of the links to tutorials as I keep finding and testing out more looks!

These are my favorite daytime look tutorials using the Naked 3 palette:

Soft and Smokey by MakeupByTiffanyD
Daytime Smokey Eye by Megan McTaggart (this may be more dramatic for some of you)
Easy Eye by Urban Decay
Bright and Smoked Eyes by Sona Gasparian
Soft Rose Day Look by xsparkage
Bright Look by sarahsloveaffair (this is one my favorites--really pretty and brightens your eyes!)
Simple, Coppery Eye by metaldiamondsfur (this is for those days when you don't have a lot of time to blend)
Day-to-Night Look by pursebuzz
Soft, Shimmery Look by GlammyMommy89
Everyday Smokey Rose Look by Buttaripple
Winter Spice Look by FromInsideMyCloset
Matte Eyes by Megan McTaggart
Soft and Flirty by ShadesofKassie
Romantic Rose Gold Eyes by hubombshell254
Daytime Romance by HeatherReallyHearts

These are my favorite night-time dramatic look tutorials using the Naked 3 palette:

Blackheart Look by Phyrra
Dark, Smokey Eye by Keiko Lynn
Winged Rose-Gold Eye by GlamJackie (you obviously wouldn't have to wing it out as much)
Black and Taupe Smokey Eye by CoffeeBreakwithDani
Dramatic, Holiday Look by Megan McTaggart
Rose-bronze Smokey Eye by Amber Cherie
Soft and Smokey Eye by Tarababyz
Valentine's Day Eye by macshadowcombos (my new favorite--it's even appropriate for day)


I plan on typing up a step-by-step list of every single look using these tutorials, like I previously did with the 1st and 2nd palettes, but I'm trying every single one of the looks that I've recorded, so it may take me a couple of weeks until I've tried all of the looks. Plus, there are new tutorials posted daily on YouTube using this palette, so I'll be struggling to keep up. I've even been putting on eyeshadow before bed so I can try out all of the looks. I did such a terrible one last night that I removed it immediately after. Let's just say that glittery shades are not meant to be blended people. And, don't trust every makeup "guru" on YouTube. That's why I've put together this guide for people like you (and me) who aren't possibly creative enough to think of a million different ways to wear eyeshadow, but want to try new and fun looks that have been tried and tested by a non-professional (i.e. me).

**UPDATE**

I now have Word files available with 24 different looks using each of the three Naked palettes. Please leave a comment below with your e-mail or e-mail me at shewi128 (at) hotmail (dot) com for a copy of any of the three.