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.

Ethan & Emma Stroller Organizer

We recently upgraded our Britax B-Agile for a Baby Jogger City Mni GT (I love trying new strollers - we've been through a small arsenal).  After doing a lot of research into what stroller organizer people liked best for the GT and what was the best value for the money, what I found over and over again was people recommending the Ethan & Emma Stroller Organizer.

Ethan & Emma was founded by parents who, like many of us, couldn't find the exact product they desired within a budget.  So they made the stroller accessories themselves!  

I have to say I totally understand their plight over at Ethan & Emma because I too, found many organizers too expensive, too flimsy, or not able to work with a variety of strollers.  The accessories at Ethan & Emma are made with high quality, durable materials that are made to last both through the daily spills, messes, shopping, as well as the more rugged trips with the stroller.

Their stroller organizer has so many pockets and add-ons that you won't even find yourself needing a whole lot extra in terms of diaper bags or purses with you.  It features two extra deep insulated cup holders to keep drinks hot or cold, a middle compartment with a silent magnetic closure with a mesh storage pocket on top, a zip off pouch, a mesh cell phone holder in front, and a large roll up bag for extended storage.

I always have a water bottle for myself and my daughter with us so the generous cup holders are a must have for me and the added insultsrion is awesome.  I love the middle compartment for keys if we're out and about.  The mesh pocket on top can be used for money, store cards, or coupons to keep them within easy reach.  I hate losing coupons in the bottom of a cup holder.

My iPhone 6s with a Lifeproof case on it fits perfectly in the mesh cell phone pouch but I don't think a 6+ or anything bigger than a 6s would fit.  Still a great sized compartment, and could be used for coupons, change, keys, etc. as well.

The little zip-off pouch on the front is great for money, credit cards, store cards, ID, or anything else you might need when you run into a store, or perhaps those little baby sunglasses (my daughter loves hers and calls them her "eyes") that need to be stored safely but still within quick reach.

If you need to being a jacket or sweatshirt for baby, the roll down bag is fantastic for that.  It rolls down and anchors to the back of the stroller frame.  It can easily fit a jacket plus snacks, and a changing station like the Skip Hop Pronto one we use and love {see my diaper bag review here for a mini spotlight on the Pronto}.  This would save you having to lug a diaper bag around with you if you didn't want to.  When you don't need the mesh nag anymore it rolls back up and velcros to the bottom of the organizer out of the way.

I can see this organizer being great at a park like Disney World and will be awesome for our trip to DC coming up.  So much storage and do many options make this the perfect organizer for light errands to all day trips and vacations.

The City Mini closes perfectly and stores in our Jeep truck with the organizer attached.

Overall, this is a great addition to our City Mini GT and I would use it on our City Select as well.  The organizer is super sturdy and so well made at a great price.  I would defiantly recommend it!

Check out the Ethan & Emma Stoller Organizer on their site here!

Disclaimer:  The super nice folks at Ethan and Emma were enough to send me their stroller organizer for review purposes.  I wasn't otherwise compensated to write this review, nor was I paid for a positive review.  All reviews are 100% honest.  Always.

Esqido Lashes and Companion Glue

Lately I've been wanting to use falsies more for special occasions and although I have my drugstore go-to's, I was dying to try some mink lashes, which I've seen everywhere lately.

Esqido was nice enough to send me their ESQIDO Mink Lashes and their ESQIDO eyelash glue to try out!

Esqido Lashes in Oh so Sweet and Companion Lash Glue

Let's review the facts from the Esqido Mink Lashes:

- Esqido lashes can be worn upwards of 25 times vs 3-4 for drugstore falsies

- Soft cotton band that's flexible

- Hypoallergenic

- Cruelty Free!  Lashes are made using hair that the minks have already shed, no animals harmed.

- Companion Lash Glue: strong all day hold, formulated for mink lashes and latex-free, it's a gentle mixture that extends the life of your lashes. With a fine tip wand, you'll be able to apply the right amount of glue to your false lashes, every time. Suitable for any type of false eyelashes.

I normally use Ardell lashes which are only good for about two to three uses.  I always wondered could I really justify buying lashes for $32 when $3 lashes served their purpose?Well my friends, the lashes from Esqido are totally worth it!  Considering you can get at least 25 (and probably more if you take care of them) uses out of the Esqido lashes, that makes them no more expensive than Ardelld per use (it works out to about a dollar a use on both brands).

The Oh So Sweet lash style was perfect for me.  It added enough drama to make my eyes stand out without looking overboard.  They are super light and the band was so comfortable that I actually forgot I was wearing them!  The quality of the actual lashes is outrageously good.  They look like natural lashes, not with the high sheen drugstore lashes tend to have.

I did need to trim a tiny bit off the inner corner but I need to do that with all lashes since they tend to poke me in the tear duct for some reason.

Their Companion Lash Glue is no joke - the lashes were almost hard to get off at the end of the day because the glue was that good.  Sometimes Duo lash glue lifts up a little in spots and I worry if I don't keep it in my purse the track might just lift right off.

My only wish was they wouldn't glue the lashes down to the packaging as much because they were a but hard to remove, but that's such a minor detail.  I love the packing and that I can reuse it to store them.  The boxes would also stack nicely if you had multiple pairs (a girl can dream, right?).  I always manage to mangle the plastic drugstore packaging and they aren't ideal for storage so then what?  My dog loves to hunt bugs and I always worry she might mistake my lashes for spiders or something ☺️.

Take the Esqido Lash Quiz to discover your personality style!

To receive $5 off your first pair of lashes, click here to use my referral link, which I really appreciate!

Thank you to Esqido for supplying me with the Oh So Sweet Lashes and Companion Lash Glue!

Disclaimer: Esqido was kind enough to send me samples of their products for review purposes.  I wasn't otherwise compensated to write this review, nor was I paid for a positive review.  All reviews are 100% honest.  Always.

Depotting Eyeshadows

After I noticed that I was getting a nice little collection of loose MAC and Urban Decay single eyeshadows, I decided to depot them to make life easier.  To start, I chose a Large MAC Pro Palette Duo and a Make Up Forever XL Palette to store them in.  I tried two methods of depotting, but when using the candle method I ended up dropping MAC Trax in the candle and ruining it.  After I switched over the the flat iron method, this is definitely the easier method (at least for me), but do whichever works for you!

{This post includes affiliate links.  Affiliate links are where I make a portion of sales from links used, which helps keep Beauty Freckled going.  Thanks for your support!}

MAC & UD Eyeshadows to depot + Graftobian Spatula

Tools:
Depotting Spatula (I used my Graftobian Double-Ended Spatula)
Rubbing Alchohol and Cotton Swab
Flat Iron/Straightener or Candle (and spoon)
Wax Paper
Round Magnets or Magnet Tape
Scissors
Sharpie
Magnetized Palette (Z Palette, MAC Pro Palette - Large/Duo, Make Up Forever Palette)

MAC Pro Palette and Make Up For Ever Metal Palette

Graftobian Double-Ended Spatula and MAC Shadow for depotting...

Steps:
1.  Open up the eyeshadow and stick the point of the depotting spatula in between the outer shell and the inner plastic pan where there is a little square hole.  Jimmy the inner pan out.
2.  Once your flat iron is hot, place the wax paper on one plate of the flat iron.  Place the eyeshadow on top of it.  This step is to melt the glue from the back of the metal pan so you can wiggle it out of that plastic pan.*
3.  After 3-5 minutes, take the pointed end of the spatula carefully press at the edge of the metal pan and see if the pan will move at all.  If not, set it back on the flat iron.
4.  Dip your cotton  swab in the alcohol and wipe the glue from the back of the metal pan.
5.  Label the back with the name of the eyeshadow, and the brand.
6.  Cut a piece of magnet if using a roll, or affix a round magnet to the back and pop in your palette!

*If you would prefer to use the candle method, put your eyeshadow pan in a spoon and lower it over the candle flame until the glue is melted and continue with steps 3-6.

I chose to melt the stickers off the back of my shadows and stick those on the back of the metal pans instead of labeling with the Sharpie (I have huge handwriting!).  Then I placed the magnet on the back where I could still read the color name.

MAC Pro Palette - Double

Using a palette also saves money since MAC sells their Pro Palette Refill Pans for $ (formerly $10), and are also already labelled on the back, versus their single eyeshadows which are $16!  I wish I had known that from the beginning.

MAC Pro Palette with MAC, Urban Decay, and Shea Moisture Shadows

Don't forget to save your shadow pans for the Back to MAC program!

Here is my finished product of my shadows in my MAC palette. So much easier just opening this up to do an eye look than a bunch of single shadows.  Plus I can take a few out to make a quad and put them in a smaller travel palette like the small version of the Make Up Forever palette, which I am going to buy just for that purpose.

MAC Pro Palette

I hope this helped everyone!  Let me know your favorite single eyeshadows and palettes to store them in below!

CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation | Foundation Review

This is a pretty raved about foundation for many in the beauty community so I decided to check it out.  I've already tried the CoverGirl Outlast Stay Luminous [read my full review here], so I was hoping the 3-in-1 would be a more matte version for my combo skin self.  Read on for more...

CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation

Claims from CoverGirl.com:

All-in-one foundation with a long-lasting formula that fuses primer, concealer, and foundation in one easy step! The 3-in-1 formula provides a flawless look that lasts all day long.

Price: $8.39 [Target]
Product Amount: 1 fluid ounce
Shade Range: 14 Shades
My Shade: 832 Nude Beige

I picked this up in 832 Nude Beige because the Stay Luminous in 825 Buff Beige was a bit light on me.  I'd say my perfect shade is more like these two mixed together (see more on that below*) but the 832 Nude Beige is fine in summer and just a tad dark in winter {shade comparisons are below as usual}.

The foundation comes in a glass bottle with a pump which is awesome.  It has SPF 20 and is a 3-in-1 formulation that includes primer, concealer, and foundation for an easy one-step application.  I've used this with and without primer and it was fine either way (I used this foundation during my Smashbox/e.l.f. Duel - read about that here).

I used the foundation with a light dusting of the CoverGirl Tru Powder over it which is an awesome powder and a tiny bit of Maybelline Fit Me Concealer under my eyes.  It did a great job covering any redness and slight acne scarring but felt super heavy on my skin.  

Wear Test: After about 7 hours it was oily and breaking down a bit around my nose, but nothing else wore off.  It just looked a bit cakey for my liking, felt heavy and looked it as well.  It looked okay from a distance, but the closer you look, the more dry, powdery, and cakey it looked.  If you have a lot to cover up, this may be better for you, but if you're looking for a more natural look, this isn't it.  The color also oxidized a bit, not to super orange, but definitely darker than when first applied.

Overall, I prefer the Revlon Colorstay as a full coverage drugstore foundation over this one any day (see my review here) and will stick with the Colorstay over this because it doesn't feel or look as heavy.  If I had to pick one between the Stay Luminous and Stay Fabulous, I almost preferred the Stay Luminous, which I never would've guess since I'm more combo to oily skinned.  This one simply didn't live up to the hype for me.

*I decided to try and mix the Stay Lumious and Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 to see what the results would be.  I mixed the 832 Nude Beige and 825 Buff Beige equally, and stippled it on with the Real Techniques Stippling Brush.  The color was on the light (and more pink) side when I first applied it, but definitely oxidized almost a full shade darker.  832 is definitely more yellow and 825 is more pink (I'm neutral leaning more yellow).  The finish was slightly dewy, but not too shiny or matte either.  Up close, you can definitely see the shimer/glitter from the Stay Luminous, which I didn't notice at first but I didn't love that aspect but you don't see it unless you're super close.  If I were wearing these foundations again, I'd definitely mix them together, or just wear the Stay Luminous alone in winter.

I used to wear the CoverGirl Clean makeup when I first started wearing makeup and loved it.  Maybe a 'Blast from the Past' makeup post/review is in order :)

A note on colors too: I'm pretty sure I was one of these colors in the Clean Collection (I believe 825 Buff Beige) so I'm not sure why neither matched me in this line, however, I read this happened to others too.

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My Foundation Shade Comparisons:
MAC -- NC 20-25
MAC Studio Fix Powder -- NC30
Makeup Forever HD -- 130 Warm Ivory
Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation -- Light 48
Kat Von D Lock-It Powder Foundation -- Medium 52
Urban Decay Naked -- 3.0
Bare Minerals -- Medium Beige N20
Tarte Amazonian Clay  Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation -- Light-Medium Neutral
Sephora Collection Perfection Mist Airbrush Foundation -- Light
Revlon Colorstay Combo/Oily -- Sand Beige 180 [winter] | Medium Beige 240 [summer]
Revlon Colorstay Whipped -- Medium Beige 250
Neutrogena Healthy Skin -- Nude
Neutrogena Nourishing Long Wear -- Nude 40
Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Powder Foundation -- Nude 40
Maybelline Fit Me! Matte - Nude Beige 125
Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse -- Nude (Light 4)
Maybelline Dream Smooth -- Nude Beige 180
Maybelline Dream Wonder -- Nude 40
L'Oréal Magic Nude -- Natural Buff 318
L'Oréal True Match -- N3 Natural Buff
L'Oréal True Match Lumi Cushion -- N2 Classic Ivory
CoverGirl Outlast Stay Luminous -- Buff Beige 825
CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 -- Nude Beige 832