Christmas Red with Rimmel Apocalips in Big Bang

I hope you all had a fabulous Christmas time with all of your family and friends! I certainly enjoyed these past few days. I, of course, took it upon myself to cook up a storm for our Christmas Eve celebration which was a bit stressful but turned out amazingly (might have to do with my amazing friend being the best sous-chef ever). After all of the slaving over the Kitchenaid mixer and oven, I finally had time to freshen up and get dolled up. For my beauty look this year I decided to keep it classic with slightly bronzed up skin, black liner and festive red lips. The star of the show was the Rimmel Apocalips in Big Bang which is a gorgeous bright red. I'm usually put off by red lipsticks, especially when they're not a deeper wine shade but I gave this one a go and I've loved it. It sits kind of in the middle, not too blue or orange toned and it's oh so pigmented.  It stays on the lips quite well, although since the formula is a liquid lipstick, it isn't the most mess-proof so to speak. Preventing the product from bleeding out is tricky and I don't find the applicator to be helpful on that front either. But for the cost of this rich red beauty, I take the extra time to make sure it's not making it's way from my lips to my chin and all over my face. It stayed on my lips looking somewhat fresh until about 12 am from my initial application at 5 or so with no touch ups. I loved how it turned out looking especially with my all black outfit. This would be a great shade for New Years as well, although if you have a special someone to give you a New Years kiss, it might be a sticky situation, literally. 

What lip combo did you sport on Christmas? Let me know in the comments! Oh, and do you have any red lipstick suggestions in a different formula?
Verse of the day: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests" - Luke 2:14

Give The Gift Of Giving

Every year during the holidays we are reminded that it's not about the presents! Yes, it is a thoughtful way of letting someone know that you appreciate their role in your life but you can do so much more, all the time. The gift of giving shouldn't be limited to one single day of the year. We need to make ourselves available to others and show them we care by supporting them in times of need. Today was a rather good example of this. The ice has been hitting us hard and last night we lost power. I woke up to a very cold and dark house. When I got the courage to look outside at my neighbourhood, I realized that the fallen branches from the trees had damaged a lot of my neighbours' cars. Although my family was left with a damaged car that later broke down, it wasn't time to think about ourselves but to lend a hand to those who were also needing it.
It's the perfect way to show people you care, even if they're strangers. A box filled with chocolates wouldn't do that but helping them move a branch from their damaged car was certainly a step. A small act of kindness goes a long way, any time of the year. I've found that the moments I transmit Christ the most can be as simple as a "Have a great day!" or "Would you like some help?" Very often you'll get the grouchy people who aren't impressed by what you've done, but sometimes they will stop in their tracks and realize that their attitudes could use some positivity. Humans can be weird sometimes, bothered by things that others would smile about, but it's no excuse not to try. Every day should be a new opportunity to do something nice for someone else! This coming year, starting from today even, I hope to bring at least one person joy each day. Clean off your glasses (spiritual ones of course) and be sensitive to the needs of others. 
Join me?

The Eyeshadow Palette Dilemma

I'm not sure what it is but I've never been the biggest eyeshadow enthusiast. When I just started out with my makeup obsession I went and ordered the Coastal Scents 88 palette which was the it product like 5 years ago. As I started to venture into more makeup products I stopped reaching for eyeshadows when getting dolled up because they were a bit too fussy. I have a slight hooded eye so it can get a bit tricky to to apply shadows. Recently though, all that has changed. My philosophy on eyeshadows hasn't evolved -- if it's not neutral, then I probably won't wear it! So this Christmas I asked for a neutral eyeshadow palette that was versatile and I could use on a daily basis. I'm pretty sure you're all screaming "Get the Urban Decay Naked Palette" but I think I've found a palette I prefer! Say hello to the Stila In The Light Palette!

I honestly swooned over this when I looked up swatches! The shades included offer a good range of different eye looks you can create AND the palette comes with a full-size waterproof smudge stick. Yes please! The shade I'm most excited to use is Kitten, Stila's signature eyeshade shade. It looks like a beautiful all over the lid colour on lazy days.  If you have any more suggestions of eyeshadow palettes, leave them below! 
Verse of the day: "Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy" - Proverbs 31:9

Fun & Festive Recipes

One of my favourite things about Christmas is getting to try out new recipes once I finally have some down time. I've loved baking for such a long time and last year I seriously went all out. I'm talking sugar cookies, gingerbread men, pies galore and delicious cakes. Yes, it was hectic but I baked until my heart was content, so this year I'd like to share with you some recipes I've been saving up to try this holiday season. As soon as my last exam is done, it's time to head to the kitchen and bake up a storm!

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These are just a few recipes that I've found that I definitely want to attempt in the next couple of weeks. Praise the Lord, Monday I'll finally be done this semester so you can expect to see some posts very soon of my recipe attempts and some sweets that I've come up with! 
What are your favourite Christmas recipes?
Verse of the day: "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him" - John 3:17

Holiday Gift Guide 2013: Under $25

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I can't begin to explain how much I love this time of year. The fact that I've been doing a countdown for Christmas on my phone since May is evidence enough. it's like there's something different in the air, people are warmer, everything is lit up to perfection and I get to spend time with the people I love the most. I think it means more to me now because growing up I didn't get the chance to do the whole Christmas thing so now I'm taking advantage of it as much as I can.If there's something I want to clarify though it's that Christmas isn't about the presents, the lights, and the trees. All of that is great, don't get me wrong, but the real reason to celebrate is Jesus! This month makes me even more aware that I have someone who loves me and gave up his own life to set me free and that to me is the biggest present I could receive!

If you're on a tighter budget these are some great gift ideas that won't break the bank. A lot of these gifts are great as stocking stuffers and indulging your friends and family with higher end brands without the sky-high price tag! As a nail polish lover I'd love to try out some higher end brands like the Dolce & Gabanna lacquer I included and the minimergency kit is great for busy women on the go who need to have essentials for any situation they may face! 

More gift guides will be on the way soon :)