New Years Eve Look - elf Cosmetics | Tutorial

This New Years Eve look was inspired by an elf eyeshadow trio I wanted to use, so I tried to use as much elf cosmetics as possible.  I love seeing navy blue eye looks for New Years so I took that as inspiration and created my own look.

Wet the elf C brush and use to pick up the navy blue color.  Pat all over eyelid up to crease.  Using a clean crease brush blend Milani Bella Taupe into crease.  Using elf contour brush, smudge black color in outer corner and slightly into crease.  Blend Bella Taupe in crease again to blend everything out.  Use clean elf contour brush to place white color in inner corner/tear duct.  Pat blue in center of lid again to brighten it up.

Line eyes with Creme Eyeliner and Eyeliner Brush.  Wing out if desired.

If I did this look again I would put down a base like the elf Pro Eyeshadow Primer or lay down a shadow stick as a primer like elf Studio Eyeliner and Shadow Stick in Black/Smoke or the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Black Bean to make the blue even more vivid.

Products used for my NYE eye look:

elf Baked Eyeshadow Trio - Smokey Sea

elf Creme Eyeliner - Black

elf Contour Brush

elf Eyeshadow "C" Brush

elf Eyeliner Brush

Milani Bella Eyes Gel Eyeshadow - 05 Bella Taupe

What else I'm wearing:

elf Radiant Glow Primer [see my full review here]
elf Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder - St Lucia

   ---> used with elf Blush Brush

Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation - 100 Ivory

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder - 004 Sandstorm

Maybelline The Falsies Volum' Express Waterproof - Very Black
Dior Addict Lip Glow - Pink

This post is not sponsored and I didn't receive any of these products for free.  I just thought it would be neat to do as much of my face in elf as possible since I was inspired by the elf eyeshadow trio.  I would love to do a full elf look one day!

Slow Cooker Chicken Cheesesteaks | Recipe | Slow Cooker Sunday

I've been making this slow cooker Chicken Cheesesteak recipe for a while now and have amended it enough that we kind of make our own version of it.  We often make this on Sunday nights (we really should just call it what it is - Sunday Slow Cooker Day 😊).  It's a great lighter and more healthy version of steak or beef cheesesteak (which we call Steak and Cheese here in Massachusetts).

Read on for our version of Slow Cooker Chicken Cheesesteaks...

Ingredients:

• 1 yellow pepper
• 1  green pepper or orange
• 1 red pepper
• 1 onion
• 2 garlic cloves (optional)
• 2  tsps paprika (I like more)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 8 oz beer - like an IPA
• 4-6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• butter
• 4-6 sub rolls
• Slices of Provolone or American cheese

Directions:

Slice the peppers and onions thinly and place in the bottom of the slow cooker.  Throw all the seasonings in on top of the veggies.  Pour the beer over them as well.  Give everything a swish around.

Place the chicken on top of the veggies. Cover and cook on high for 4-6 hours [or low 6-8 if you prefer].

Shred the chicken using two forks or tongs.  Mix everything together.

Place oven on the broiler setting.  Butter both sides of each sub roll.  Place two slices of provolone cheese on each side of the roll.  Lay the rolls out on a baking sheet and place under the broiler for a few minutes until warm and toasty, and the cheese is slightly melted.

Add chicken and peppers to each roll and add whatever toppings you might like - hubs loves Sriracha on his.

Makes: at least 4 fully loaded sandwiches

This is one of those recipes that gets better overnight as the flavors meld together.  

Reheating: Just toast your bread the same way in a toaster over, redheat your chicken mixture and you're good to go!  This would be a great party recipe to make you could just leave some rolls out with a variety of sliced or shredded cheeses and have people add their chicken mixture and toppings.

eDiva Duchess | Review

I was gifted the eDiva Duchess for my birthday this year and I am beyond excited!!!  I have wanted one of these bad boys ever since I saw them on Saaammage's channel on YouTube (her organization tips on them in her makeup collection videos are great so check them out).  I do store my makeup in an old vanity that used to be in my grandmothers house but I wanted something that I could put on top where my go-to products would be to streamline my process.

The Pros and Claims:
- Stylish and cute with rounded corners
- Dividers included to organize drawers
- Super durable 1/2 inch acrylic 
- Guaranteed against nicks, chips, etc.
- Shipping is super fast and FREE

Because I wanted to put it on top of my vanity, I chose the Duchess size which is the smaller out of their two sizes [the Princess being the larger].  It measures 10" x 10" x 12" and is made of high quality acetic with rounded corners.  For someone who is a tad clutzy like myself, especially when rushing to get ready - I won't nick myself on any sharp corners.

With the way I used the dividers I had enough for thee drawers worth, which worked perfectly for me.  I tried to pretty much organize the drawers in the order I would put my face on in with a few slight exceptions that dividers made a bit tricky.  I think the end result was pretty darn good and I am super happy with it!

Here is a quick rundown of my drawers from bottom to top:

First [Bottom] Drawer: Foundations

Second Drawer: Concealers, Powders, Mascara

Third Drawer: Blush, Highlighters, Fave Lip Products

Fourth Drawer: Eyeliners, Eye Bases (stick & pots), Single Shadows

Fifth [Top] Drawer: Palettes, Double Ended Brushes

On top I have a letter divider I picked up at Marshall's with some palettes I love and use a lot in it, a bowl that was my grandmother's with my beauty blenders and a few small brushes in it, and some Urban Decay Primer Potion.

I am simply loving the eDiva Duchess.  It streamlines my most used and favorite products and makes it so easy and quick to find what I need.  The quality is so much better than the acrylic boxes I have seen at Marshalls or Target.  Also, the fact that eDiva has a payment plan is a great option that I haven't seen anywhere else.

eDiva's organizers are amazing for a variety of people from those who have a small makeup collection thst just want to keep everything consolidated on a dresser or in a bathroom without a vanity to the makeup extrodionIre who wants to showcase high end makeup to those like me who are the happy medium and just want to streamline the process.

Check out eDiva on their website here.

I hope to do a whole vanity tour soon - it's a vintage mirror and vanity set that was my grandmother's and it means so much to me.